MacGregor State School eNewsletter

From the Principal

Dear parents & caregivers,

Our learners:

Last week I was delighted to receive a visit from these talented writers from year 5AB. The students shared some of their amazing poetry with Mrs Keating and I and we were blown away by the descriptive and imaginative vocabulary used in their poems. Many thanks to the students and Mrs Sawbridge and Ms Warren for sharing their wonderful learning with us.

I am delighted to have been selected to attend Professional Development entitled Courageous Principals over the course of this coming weekend.

Hosted by the department’s Education Futures Institute, the Courageous Principals program is a world-class professional learning program delivered in partnership with Deloitte. It offers an advanced leadership experience for established and experienced principals from Queensland state education.

Yours in equity & excellence,

Lee Gerchow

Prep and Year One

Welcome back, everyone!

It is lovely to see all of our learners return to school relaxed, rested and ready for learning. Term 4 is always one of the busiest terms of the school year, with many exciting events and activities planned for our families.

Thank you to 1A and 1B for welcoming us all back with a wonderful display of their learning in the Tuckshop area.

Academic Awards

I am happy to share an exciting change to our academic awards process for Prep learners. In response to valuable feedback from some parents and staff, we have decided to introduce a Prep Graduation Ceremony that will replace the traditional Academic Awards Ceremony for Prep students. This new event will allow us to celebrate the accomplishments, efforts and growth of all our Prep learners.

The prep year, by definition, is a “preparatory year” and crucial foundation for primary school education for our learners. In alignment with contemporary educational practices and our commitment to Department’s Strategic Plan of Equity and Excellence, we believe that comparative academic awards may no longer be the most suitable approach for this age group.

During the Prep Graduation Ceremony, we will take the opportunity to recognise and honour the achievements, progress and hard work of every Prep student, in their readiness to embark on Year 1. Teachers have planned that every Prep student will receive a gold ‘star’ badge dated 2023 and Graduation Certificate to keep as a lasting memento of their Year of Prep at MacGregor State School. Students will be able to wear this badge on Mondays, as part of their formal school uniform, if they wish.

We will share more details about this special event in the near future, with a current date set for Monday, 27 November. Please mark this date in your calendars and stay tuned for further updates. We cannot wait to celebrate our amazing Prep learners with you!

School Hours

With warmer weather upon us, we see more and more students arriving to school before 8am. For the safety of your children, limited supervision is provided between 8:15am and 8:30am every morning in the Harmony Place and the Tuckshop areas. Students should not be at school before this time. Please help us maintain the school as a safe place for our students by following these guidelines. If you require supervision prior to this time, we ask that you please organise alternative arrangements for your children.

Please also note that all playgrounds are out-of-bounds before and after school. There is no supervision around playgrounds during this time.

Hats at school

I have noticed an increasing number of young learners not wearing hats when playing outside. As a school, we promote a very important message about being SunSmart. On occasions, when students misplace or forget their hats, we offer them to play in the undercover areas. Please help us keep your children well and Sun Safe by ensuring they come to school with their hat every day. Hats are required for all outdoor activities and it would be a shame to see our learners miss out on these learning opportunities.

MacGregor State School expectations of behaviour – outside of school hours

It is disappointing to share that we have recently received feedback from Sunny Park Shopping Centre regarding the behaviour of unsupervised students outside of school hours.

It has been reported that MacGregor State School students have engaged in soccer-style games in the centre resulting in damage to shop fronts. These behaviours are not in line with our behaviour expectations.

Parents are responsible for collecting their children from school – if you are not able to do this, we offer supervised after school care at MacGregor Out of School Hours Care (MOSHC). If you are collecting your child and anticipate being late, please make contact with our office so that you can be assured your child is safe and accounted for.

Students are representing our school and your family when out in public in their school uniform and therefore we expect they will uphold the expectations of behaviour at all times.

2024 Prep Enrolments

This week I will commence the formation of our 2024 Prep classes. This is a reminder to our existing families to submit the enrolment application if you have a child eligible to start Prep in 2024. Please note that if you already have a child at MacGregor State School, but reside outside the school catchment area, the sibling will be automatically enrolled at the school. If this is the case for your family and you have only submitted an Expression of Interest for 2024, please contact the school as a matter of urgency to update your application.

Year Two and Three

MacGregor State School expectations of behaviour – outside of school hours
It is disappointing to share that we have recently received feedback from Sunny Park Shopping Centre regarding the behaviour of unsupervised students outside of school hours.
It has been reported that MacGregor State School students have engaged in soccer-style games in the centre resulting in damage to shop fronts. These behaviours are not in line with our behaviour expectations.
Parents are responsible for collecting their children from school – if you are not able to do this, we offer supervised after school care at MacGregor Out of School Hours Care (MOSHC). If you are collecting your child and anticipate being late, please make contact with our office so that you can be assured your child is safe and accounted for.
Students are representing our school and your family when out in public in their school uniform and therefore we expect they will uphold the expectations of behaviour at all times.

Year Four and Five

Welcome back to Term 4! It was nice to venture around last week and hear about what the students did on their 2 week break and share my own trip.

News from Year 4

Excursion:

The permissions for the Waste, Recycling and Resource Centre has now closed and invoices were issued on Wednesday. Please remember, the invoices will go to only the first registered email account not both.

The Year 4 students have set an impressive standard on their Pinball Machines, and I have enjoyed the visits to the classroom to hear how their Pinball machine works.

4D Teachers:

Mr Pippos is now working Monday to Wednesday and Mr McNab will be working on the Thursday and Friday.

News from Year 5

Farewells and Welcomes:

Students in 5F will be saying good-bye to Ms Liao on Friday as she leaves to go on Maternity Leave. In replacement we are welcoming Mrs O’Brien who the students met last week. Mrs O’Brien is returning from maternity leave but has been teaching for the past 10 years at Wishart.

Year 5 Camp Update

We are in the final stages of organising camp. Thank you to the parents for all your support in completing the paper work for this camp all online. This has saved our teachers a significant amount of time in administration and has made the process a lot simpler. If you have any concerns or questions around camp, please contact me and discuss these. Camp is about having a fun time with your friends and attempting things outside of the classroom.

For those students not attending camp, Mrs O’Brien will be supervising you and has 3 days’ worth of fun (no school work) activities for the students to participate in. Students not attending camp are still required to attend school unless there are other reasons for absence.

MacGregor State School expectations of behaviour – outside of school hours

It is disappointing to share that we have recently received feedback from Sunny Park Shopping Centre regarding the behaviour of unsupervised students outside of school hours.

It has been reported that MacGregor State School students have engaged in soccer-style games in the centre resulting in damage to shop fronts. These behaviours are not in line with our behaviour expectations.

Parents are responsible for collecting their children from school – if you are not able to do this, we offer supervised after school care at MacGregor Out of School Hours Care (MOSHC). If you are collecting your child and anticipate being late, please make contact with our office so that you can be assured your child is safe and accounted for.

Students are representing our school and your family when out in public in their school uniform and therefore we expect they will uphold the expectations of behaviour at all times.

Year Six

Welcome to Term 4, 2023!

Term 4 has started very smoothly – our Year 6 learners are looking refreshed and ready to progress through their last term of primary school.

We have such a busy term here at MacGregor State School – thank you for your support in ensuring your child continues to be prepared for school every day.

Sun Safe Choices

True or False?
Sun damage is not possible on windy, cloudy or cool days

False: you can get sun damage on windy, cloudy and cool days. Sun damage is caused by ultraviolet (UV) radiation, not temperature. A cool or overcast day in summer can have similar UV levels to a warm, sunny day. If it’s windy and you get a red face, it’s likely to be sunburn (www.cancer-information/causes-and-prevention/sun-safety )

We continue to prioritise messaging regarding sun-safe choices at MacGregor State School. Unfortunately, some of our Year 6 students think they don’t need to be wearing a hat during play or when out in direct sunlight. Please continue to support the full wearing of our school uniform which includes a bucket hat when not participating in school sports.

Hats continue to be available for purchase at the uniform shop. Bucket hats are just $12 each and are available in small, medium and large.

Strengthening community partnerships –

Paula Daveron Bursary Recipient 2023

Paula Davoren was a compassionate and highly committed lady who devoted her services as a member of the Lion's Club of Brisbane MacGregor for over twenty-three years.

Serving as a former President of the club and holding many other positions within the Lion's Organisation, Paula was a person of great integrity and a deeply valued member of both the Club and its wider communities. Paula was awarded life membership of Lions Clubs International in recognition of her ongoing commitment and service to the community.

In her memory, the Lion's Club of Brisbane MacGregor was gifted a bequest that was to be used within the MacGregor community.

MacGregor State School takes great pride in the announcement of the Paula Daveron Bursary Award, presented in partnership with MacGregor State High School, to a Year 6 student who shows exemplary commitment and determination to their academic and citizenship endeavours.

We are proud to share that the recipient of the 2023 Paula Daveron Bursary is Charlotte Richard-Preston.

On the evening of Tuesday the 3^rd of October, I was fortunate to join Charlotte, her parents and representatives from the Brisbane MacGregor Lions where Charlotte was acknowledged for this achievement. We were warmly welcomed as guests where we learnt more about the outstanding work Lions do in our community and how they give back to the community via initiatives such as the Paula Daveron Bursary.

Lions hold themselves to the absolute highest standards in everything they do. Their members and clubs are dedicated to serving others, and it shows. They champion kindness in their communities and actively work to improve the lives of all people.

Is your child in Year 6 in 2024?

All Year 6 students enrolled at MacGregor State School in 2024 are eligible to apply for the 2024 Paula Daveron Bursary – head to our school website, click on Our Community and select The Paula Daveron Bursary tab. If you have any questions, please email me at jbail154@eq.edu.au

ICAS 2023 Certificate Distribution –

Important Information for Families

We are excited to share that ICAS certificates for Science, English and Mathematics have been arriving. With the majority of participants completing all three assessments, we are collating certificates ready to distribute in one personalised envelope.

Thank you for your patience as we collate over 900 individual certificates.

Parents, please note the following:

When you receive your child’s named envelope, please check that you have your child’s certificate/s
Names printed on the certificate are based on what you provided to ICAS during the on-line registration process. Any incorrect spellings are to be followed up with ICAS
Students who received a Distinction or High Distinction award for ICAS Science, English or Mathematics will be acknowledged on the following assemblies:
- Year 2 + 3: Week 4 Monday 23^rd October at 12.30pm
- Year 4 + 5 + 6: Week 4 Monday 23^rd October at 2pm

SAVE THE DATE 2023 Year 6 Graduation

Our Year 6 students have just over 40 days of primary school remaining! With a very busy Term 4, this time will fly by and before we know it, we will be

Planning is well underway for our exciting end of year event at Nissan Arena. As shared with our community last term, the 2023 Year 6 Graduation will be held at Nissan Arena on Tuesday 5^th December from 6pm. This will be an evening event held off-site for the first time in many years. To accommodate our families, this year there will be no limit to tickets per family however as shared earlier in the year, families will be asked to pre-purchase tickets via Ticketek.

Official invitations to our families will be distributed however to assist in your planning, ticket prices will be as follows:

Ticket Type	Cost
Year 6 MacGregor SS graduating student	Free of charge
Adults	$25 per person
Concession	$20 per person
Child	$10 per child

Save the Date – Wet + Wild Friday 1^st December

Parents of our Year 6 students, keep an eye out on your QParents App for consent and excursion details for our annual Year 6 Wet + Wild fun day on Friday 1^st December!

This annual event has been a great way for our Year 6 students to come together for their very last excursion together.

To assist in your preparations, I can share the following:

Students do not need to wear their school uniform on this day but their clothing must be sun-safe (covered shoulders and hat)
Students bring sunscreen, lunch, snacks, spending money and change of clothes for their trip home all in a secure backpack/ bag.

Acknowledging our learners – Term 3 Sunnybank State High School

STEM Challenge

Last term, 18 of our Year 5 learners were selected to attend the annual Sunnybank State High School STEM Challenge. On assembly yesterday, those who were present were presented with a certificate of participation and a personalised key ring (designed and created by the 3-D printing team at Sunnybank State High School). Every one of these students represented MacGregor State School with pride, enthusiasm and a very high level of commitment to accepting the STEM challenges presented. Well done to:

Safwan 5B, Ishann 5B, Isara 5C, Mila, 5C, Zoe 5C, Melody 5C, Jared 5C, Inba 5D, Vivian 5D, Ingrid 5D, Sophie 5D, Liam 5E, Jerry 5E, Patrick 5F, Elisha 5F, Levi 5F Lucia 5A and Madeline 5G.

MacGregor State School expectations of behaviour – outside of school hours

It is disappointing to share that we have recently received feedback from Sunny Park Shopping Centre regarding the behaviour of unsupervised students outside of school hours.

It has been reported that MacGregor State School students have engaged in soccer-style games in the centre resulting in damage to shop fronts. These behaviours are not in line with our behaviour expectations.

Parents are responsible for collecting their children from school – if you are not able to do this, we offer supervised after school care at MacGregor Out of School Hours Care (MOSHC). If you are collecting your child and anticipate being late, please make contact with our office so that you can be assured your child is safe and accounted for.

Students are representing our school and your family when out in public in their school uniform and therefore we expect they will uphold the expectations of behaviour at all times.

H.O.D. Update

See you soon, From Mrs Birbilis

After being a part of the MacGregor State School community in various capacities over the last fourteen years, the time has now come for me to step beyond McCullough Street and venue to a new home. This is not goodbye but just see you later. I have been appointed Acting Deputy Principal of Years 5 and 6 at Sunnybank Hills State School for the remainder of the year. During this time, I will miss the wonderful MacGregor State School community but wanted to personally let you know of this change. In the meantime, as a parent of the school, I will still be around the school grounds and look forward to attending the school musical.

Learning Engagement Team Update

Support Maia’s freedom for a Wheelchair Van

Maia is a current student at Macgregor State School. She dreams of travelling in her family car like her peers to exciting destinations. Maia is confined to an electronic wheelchair.

Currently, Maia’s Mum, Tegan is having to transfer Maia from her wheelchair into and out of a car seat in her Honda CRV, which is getting increasingly difficult as Maia grows and due to the fact that Maia is unable to weight bare.

Tegan has started up a fundraiser to help assist in getting Maia’s dream van. This van will be equipped to get them around Queensland and beyond, and they are excited by what the future will bring them both with this transport option.

Please donate via the link below and share wide with friends and family. Tegan greatly appreciates any support to help them to reach their goal.

https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-maias-freedom-with-a-wheelchair-van?utm_campaign=p_lico+share-sheet-first-launch&utm_medium=copy_link&utm_source=customer

Sports Update

In true MacGregor fashion we started the term in a very busy way.

Inter and Intra sport resumed and the students have been busy training and playing games. We are moving into week 7 of sport this week and look forward to the students enjoying themselves over the remaining weeks.
On Tuesday and Wednesday of this week we have had two students representing Met East at the State Track and Field Championships. Congratulations to Boaz and Zoe who have done an amazing job in their events.
Massive congratulations to Zoe who has come first in the Multi event for her age. #1 in QLD is amazing. Zoe also came 5^th in Discus which is also a special achievement.

Zoe will now prepare for the National Championships to be held later this year in Tasmania.

Message from The Guidance Officer

Mental Health Awareness Week: Fostering Awareness, Belonging, and Connection

Dear Parents and Guardians

In our ongoing commitment to prioritise the mental health and well-being of our students, we are actively participating in Mental Health Awareness Week. The focus of this week is to raise awareness, promote a sense of belonging, and encourage connections within our school community.

Did you know that 1 in 7 children and young people are likely to experience a mental health condition? In an average classroom of 25-30 students, this means approximately 4 children in each class, may experience mental health challenges. Recognising and addressing these challenges is crucial to ensure the well-being of our students.

What are the effects of mental illness on learning?

Poorer school attendance, behaviour
Decrease in academic performance
More likely to drop out of school early

Throughout this week, our students have actively participated in educational activities centred around mental health, emphasising strategies to support them during challenging times. They have gained valuable insights into understanding various aspects of mental health and learned about the available support systems. The aim has been to break down stigma through increased awareness and education, ultimately fostering an environment where individuals feel at ease seeking help and support.

Tomorrow, we are excited to host a special event aimed at building a stronger sense of belonging among our students. The event will raise awareness about preventive measures that can support overall well-being and create a platform for students to connect with one another. Creating a sense of belonging and community is essential for nurturing positive mental health.

We encourage parents and guardians to engage in conversations with their children about mental health, emphasizing the importance of open communication and understanding. Together, we can create a supportive environment that allows our students to thrive emotionally, mentally, and academically.

Thank you for being an active participant in our school community and for joining us in prioritising the mental health and well-being of our students.

Hello from our Chappy Mr T.

Welcome back to Term 4. We are approaching the finishing line to 2023 very quickly.

I want to reflect on the year so far and the new experiences as each day and week goes by. We'll have our ups and downs, good and bad experiences.

Through it all, have an attitude of gratitude or being thankful. Even if we are having a bad day or going through a tough time, the trials, testing and perseverance makes us complete.

Lets go for Term 4.

MacGregor State School Peace Code

Performing Arts

Date Claimers

Musical - Thursday 19^th - Saturday 21^st October
MUSICFEST - Thursday 26^th October
MEX Recital - Thursday 2^nd November
SUNPAC Summerfest - Saturday 4^th November
Junior & Senior Music Gala- Thursday 9^th November

Finance Update

For invitation and registration assistance with QParents, please contact Marcia Crichton at mcric14@eq.edu.au.

We appreciate your support in adopting this new process as we aim to streamline and enhance the way we manage permissions for our school activities.

REMINDER E-LEARNING CLASSES FOR 2024

The expressions of interest for years 3 to 6 are now available on QParent.

If you would like to register your interest please ensure this is submitted by 20 October 2023.

Mac Shack News

Volunteers Needed

The Mac Snack Shack needs your help to keep our tuckshop running smoothly and efficiently. We are looking for volunteers who can spare a few hours a week to assist in the tuckshop. No experience necessary, just a friendly smile and a willingness to learn. Please follow this link to sign up – https://msspc.org.au/tuck-shop/

Online Ordering

Flexischools continues to be the fastest and easiest way to place orders. You can sign up online at https://flexischools.com.au/parents or download the Flexischools app. Orders must be placed before 8.30am for same day orders. Alternatively, you can order up to a month in advance.

Summer Menu

The summer menu runs for term 4 2023 and term 1 2024. The tuckshop will continue to make our most popular daily specials, Pasta and our Bento Box. New daily specials will be available, as well as some new items added to our regular menu. Check out the new menu here https://msspc.org.au/tuck-shop/

Uniform Shop

UNIFORM SHOP NEWS

Opening Hours: Monday, Wednesday and Friday 8:00 am to 9:00 am

SWIMMING

Swimming re-commences in Term 4. The Uniform Shop has stock of swimming caps and swim bags to help you get organised for classes.

ONLINE ORDERING

Online ordering using My Student Account is available at the Uniform Shop.

Orders for uniform and stationery requirements can be placed and delivered to your child's classroom.

https://macgregorss.mystudentaccount.com

Contact us: uniformshop@msspc.org.au

P&C website: https://msspc.org.au/

Chess Team

Student Achievements

Congratulations to Candice B who won 3nd place in Jazz Solo Year 8 section in the Starbound Dancing Competition at the Gold Coast

Congratulations to Emma Y who won the 3rd place in Group A Division of 2023 Queensland Girls Chess State Final.

We are excited to share that Ellie L has completed her AMEB violin Comprehensive Grade 3 exam and received a High Distinction A+!

Toohey Design a Christmas Card Competition

My annual Christmas Card Competition is back!

This year’s theme is: Christmas in Brisbane.

The competition is open to all primary school students from Year 1 to Year 6.

The artwork can be created in any medium and should be no larger than A4 size in portrait or landscape view.

Schools can email entries on behalf of students to: Toohey@parliament.qld.gov.au

Please name the artwork files in the format of schoolname-firstname-lastname.png.

Entries close 5pm on Friday 10 November 2023.

The winning artwork will be featured in my 2023 Christmas Card.

The winning artist will receive a $50 gift card and a $50 voucher to the Avid Reader Bookshop’s “Where the Wild Things Are” children’s section.

Three runners-up will receive a $30 gift card.

Winning artists will be notified by 17 November.

Please reach out to my office if you have any questions.

BMX with the Best

Looking for a free family fun day out? Join Cycling Brisbane at Kuraby Skate Park on Saturday 21 October for our BMX with the best event. The event features worldclass demonstrations, free kids’ activities and workshops run by BMX international champions, including Australian BMX Olympian Natalya Diehm, food vendors, an opportunity to win a brand-new BMX bike and so much more. Workshop spaces are limited so book now!

https://www.cyclingbrisbane.com.au/events?trumbaEmbed=search%3DBMX

MacGregor State School Newsletter 2023 Edition 7

From the Principal

Prep and Year One

Year Two and Three

Year Four and Five

Year Six

H.O.D. Update

Learning Engagement Team Update

Sports Update

Message from The Guidance Officer

Hello from our Chappy Mr T.

MacGregor State School Peace Code

Performing Arts

Finance Update

Mac Shack News

Uniform Shop

SWIMMING

Chess Team

Student Achievements

Toohey Design a Christmas Card Competition

BMX with the Best

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