20 August 2021

Newsletter Articles

FROM THE PRINCIPAL’S DESK

We have passed the mid-way check point for Term 3. From lockdown to ongoing restrictions, here at Musgrave, we are striving to provide a consistent, supportive and predictable learning environment for our students; as the learning must go on. I would like to congratulate students and staff alike for the work they continue to do in our classrooms each day. Our expectations remain high, as we know our students are capable of achieving great outcomes if given the right opportunities.

The requirements are always evolving so please understand that it is not possible to give a detailed plan today as to what events and activities will look like in the future as the COVID rules can and do change.

Some of the strict restrictions that have been in place over the past 3 weeks will ease as of 4pm tonight. So, what does that mean for our school community come Monday.

Drop Off and Pick-Up Guidelines

8.30am Drop Off-:

• Parents are able to escort their child/ren to their Meet and Greet Areas in the morning.
• Here you “Kiss and Go”, and staff are on duty in these areas to supervise students.
• If you cannot keep 1.5m apart from others – please wear a mask
• As per usual the morning drop-off time is not the time to have a meeting with the class teacher, if you have any questions or concerns please email so an appointment can be made

2.50pm Pick-Up-: Due to the mass exodus of students at the end of the day, I ask that parents please remain outside the school gates and follow the procedures below-:

• If you walk, or park and walk please collect children from the Walk-Up Zone area which is located, on the grassed area outside the Prep Building. Please wait outside the gate and ensure social distancing occurs. Your child will be escorted to you.
• If you are driving to collect your child/ren please enter the Pick-up Zone, remain in your vehicle and your child/ren will be escorted to you.

Face masks must be worn if you cannot keep 1.5 metres apart from other people. This is particularly important at our Pick-Up time, so please if you cannot stay 1.5m apart, wear a mask.

We welcome back our itinerant teachers, instrumental music teachers and Pre-Service Teachers. As we don’t have assemblies for the next two weeks due to Show Day and Student Free Day, we will assess how this will look later in the term.

Prep Enrolments

While many things are different in 2021, other things remain constant such as our planning forward to the next year of school. To help us with classes and numbers for next year we ask that any families with 2022 Prep age students please return your completed enrolment paper work, including birth certificate, to the office ASAP to secure your place.

Enrolling early not only allows us to plan our staffing and classes as accurately as possible, it also provides the opportunity for your 2022 Prep child to participate in our transition and information sessions which are extremely valuable in assisting with the transition into school.

Speech Pathology Week 2021

Speech Pathology Week seeks to promote the speech pathology profession and the work done by speech pathologists with the 1.2 million Australians who have a communication disability. In 2021, Speech Pathology Week is from 22-28 August. The theme for Speech Pathology Week in 2021 is: Communication is everyone's right.

Speech pathologists work to ensure everyone can communicate with confidence. It is important that the broader community understands that:

• communication is a basic human right;
• 1.2 million Australians live with communication disability;
• communication disability is largely invisible. Unseen and out-of-sight;
• confident communication helps maximise educational, health and social outcomes; and
• communication is more than just speech.

A big thank you to the Speech Therapists who support not just Musgrave but all the Queensland schools.

Julie-Anne McGuinness

WHAT’S HAPPENING

Book Week Celebrations Thursday 26th August

Next Thursday 26 August we will be celebrating Book Week and I am particularly looking forward to seeing our students and staff dressing up in costumes reflecting this year’s theme :-

'Old Worlds, New Worlds, Other Worlds'.

We encourage all students to dress up but remind parents to ensure student costumes are made in a way that students can take them off independently if needed and also to provide a school uniform for the rest of the day if the costume is impractical for students to remain in all day.

Due to the indoor restrictions still in place, unfortunately parents are unable to attend this event. I am sure teachers will take lots of photos to ensure you don’t miss out.

Book prizes will be awarded to the top 2 'Best Dressed' plus a bonus "Mrs McGuinness prize". Three total winners per year level.

ASSEMBLY AWARDS

Friday 6th August 2021

Friday 13th August 2021

CLASSROOM CAPERS – 3 WHITE

What’s been happening in 3 White!

It’s been a busy start to Term 3! We have been enjoying learning about a variety of celebrations and commemorations from Australia and around the world.

So far, we have explored Australia Day, the Basant Kite Festival and St Patrick’s Day. We have been creative when learning about these events and have made an art piece to match.

Here are some of our kites for the Basant Kite Festival and shamrocks (clovers) for St Patrick’s Day.

We can’t wait to research and find out about our next one!

Mrs Lees and Ms Farrelly – Class Teachers

TUCKSHOP NEWS

If you have ordered tuckshop for your child and they are going to be away sick, please ring the tuckshop no later than 9.30am and we can hold the lunch over until they come back. We currently only make to order and unfortunately if you have not called up before the cut off time, the food will be made. If your child is going home sick and they have a tuckshop order please ask the ladies in the front office to give us a call as we can send the tuckshop to the office for you to take home with your child.

We’ve had some issues with deliveries and stock being available. If you have a child has ordered something that we do not have in stock a note is written on the bag for the student to return to the tuckshop for an alternative. Please remind your child to check their lunch bags for these notes and that all items ordered are in the tuckshop bag.

Colour Run

Friday 17th September

The Colour Run will start at the end of ‘Afternoon Tea’ 1.45pm.

The cost will be $7.50 and this includes your Colour Run and an Ice Block. The Ice Blocks will be handed out at our first break so we can ensure everyone that ordered one gets one. We will also be running our Subway Meal Deal on the day.

The Colour Run will be held on the last day of Term 3 which means our Tuckshop will be closed for stocktake and cleaning so the only food option available will be the Subway Meal Deal. You can purchase your Colour Run Band and Subway Meal Deal on QKR right now. There will also be order forms handed out by Class Teachers. Please keep an eye out for the Permission Slip which will be given to your child by their Teacher.

NO PERMISSION SLIP – NO COLOUR RUN!

All permission slips and payments need to be finalised by Monday 13th September 9:00am.

Sally McWilliams - Tuckshop and Uniform Convenor

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 Worries

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 Worries

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 Worries

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 Worries

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

Worries 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 reason for their worries.
• Give comfort, reassurance and practical help with how to cope e.g. change thinking to be more positive.
• Prepare your child for changes – talk to them about what might happen and why.
• 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 worries and protect your child from taking on your concerns.

If your child is so worried that they can’t cope more specialist help may be needed.

NB: At these times a talk to your school’s guidance officer, or your doctor will be useful, or you could seek help through child mental health services. Through the medicare benefits scheme access to a psychologist is available, speak to your General Practitioner about accessing this scheme if you feel this is needed.

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

Tamara Napper – Guidance Officer

A WORD FROM OUR CHAPLAIN

Breakfast Club

A big thank you and appreciation to our Breakfast Club volunteers who serve our students breakfast every Thursday morning.

Chappy Rusty (Chaplain)

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”

Keebra Park High School Academic Excellence Program

Keebra Park invites current year 4 and 5 female students to ‘Girls Sport Academy and Academic Talent Development Day’ at Griffith University. There will be Girls Sport Academy scholarships and Academic scholarships on offer, and students will have the chance to participate in a range of activities throughout the day.

Date: Friday 15 October
Time: 9am – 2pm

You must register via the link below to participate. Registrations close Friday 8 October.

Any further questions regarding the event please email: bm@keebraparkshs.eq.edu.au

Runaway Bay Little Athletics

Runaway Bay Baseball Club

UPCOMING EVENTS