MacGregor State School Newsletter 2024 Edition 2
From the Principal
Dear Parents & Caregivers,
It's difficult to believe that we are almost at the mid-point of Term 1 after a wonderful but very busy start to the school year.
This week I’ve really enjoyed getting into the Year 2 classes to read to the children – sharing the book ‘Our Family Dragon – A Lunar New Year Story’. Many of the children were able to connect with the story and share personal experiences about how they celebrate the Lunar New Year with their families. I do hope all families are enjoying the ongoing celebration of the Year of the Dragon.
I am taking some long-service-leave from Friday 16th February until Friday 23rd February to spend some time with my family. I look forward to getting back into classrooms upon my return to catch up with the remainder of the year 2 classes as well as other year levels who invite me in to participate in the learning.
I return to school on the 26th February. Mrs Sandi Keating is Officer-in-Charge during my absence.
Yours in Equity & Excellence,
Mr. Lee Gerchow
Principal
Prep and Year One
Welcome to Week 4!
Congratulations to all learners in the Prep and Year 1 sector on settling in so beautifully and engaging in learning. Thank you to all the families who took the time to meet with their child’s teacher during the first round of our Parent-Teacher Conferences. By working together, we can better understand our children’s strengths, weaknesses and unique needs, creating a powerful support system for our learners.
Learning in Prep and Year 1 sector
Children learn best when they are actively engaged in purposeful learning experiences that build from their interests, strengths and capabilities.
The Australian Curriculum clearly defines what is to be taught and our teachers use their knowledge of children's capabilities, interests and motivations to identify the most effective way to teach curriculum content.
To read more about the learning in the first two bands of schooling, please visit the curriculum links below.
- Learning in Foundation (Prep) Year
In their first year of school, students learn from their teachers and through their interactions with others. They experiment, practise and play in the classroom and school community. Priority is given to literacy and numeracy development as these are the foundations upon which further learning is built. There are opportunities to develop literacy and numeracy in all subjects and particularly in English and Mathematics. Learning in a classroom and belonging to a school community are key to the first year at school.
- Learning in Years 1 and 2
In Years 1 and 2, priority is given to the important areas of literacy and numeracy development. English and Mathematics are the core subjects for this, but literacy and numeracy are found in all subjects. By the end of Year 2, students have a much stronger understanding of themselves and have begun to connect with the wider community.
With our continuous focus on Age-Appropriate Pedagogies, our teachers design activities that provide opportunities for young learners to engage in learning through multi-sensory approach across all learning areas. As they manipulate materials, and experiment with the properties of objects, they express ideas through a hands-on, physical approach to learning. Below are the examples of age-appropriate pedagogies in action.
Safety messages
We have noticed an increased number of children playing on the play equipment before and after school. Please help us keep all children safe by actively supervising your own children and staying off the playgrounds during these times.
To ensure the safety and security of all students and staff, we kindly request that parents and visitors refrain from lingering on the school grounds once the learning day has commenced. Once the bell rings and the school day begins, we kindly ask that you say your goodbyes and make your way off the school premises.
We understand that it can be tempting to stay and watch your child settle into their daily routine or to have a chat with other parents, but it is crucial that we maintain a secure environment during school hours. By limiting access to the school grounds, we can better monitor who enters and exits the premises, ensuring the safety of everyone inside.
If you need to visit the school during the day, we kindly ask that you report to the main office and sign in. Please ensure the school gates remain shut during school hours.
Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.
Year Four and Five
It has been pleasing to see how well the classrooms have settled and engaging in their learning. Our 4 classrooms from AA are still in their temporary spaces, but we are hoping to have some definite dates of completion so they can go back to their classrooms.
We are having regular conversations with parents around the use of laptops and devices at night time. Please help your child develop good night time routines by having a switch off time and no devices in bedrooms to stop the temptation. Laptops also need to be charged nightly so they last the full day at school.
I would like to welcome Aarti Nathu our new teacher in 5F. Before teaching, Mrs Nathu worked as a Scientist in a medical laboratory. 5F and Mrs Nathu have been busy this week setting up clear classroom expectations.
Lunar New Year: All Year 4 classes worked in collaboration using their fractions knowledge in maths to create the scales for the dragon. Each child designed their own scale for the dragon based on their experience or knowledge of Chinese New Year.
Year 4: Incursion Shake and Stir – The Twits performance:
Invoices have now been issued. If you did not grant permission or return the paperwork, please contact your classroom teacher if you wish for your child to participate.
Year 5: Incursion – Street Science – See the light workshop:
Online consent has now closed and invoices have been issued. Please speak with your classroom teacher if you wish for your child to participate.
Year Six
Welcome to Week 4 of Term 1 at MacGregor State School.
We are well and truly into the learning term with students getting to know their teachers, their Term 1 learning content and each other as the schools senior leaders.
Parents – I can not communicate enough the importance of ensuring you know what your child is doing on-line. We have started the year with some disappointing choices once again involving a lack of awareness of what children are doing on-line. This has included clear breaches of user agreements with school distributed devices outside of school hours.
e-Safety Commissioner website – we urge all parents to familiarise themselves with the e-Safety Commissioners website to assist in keeping our children safe on-line.
This week our focus is on helping you manage screen time for your child. How much is too much? And, what can you do if you are concerned about your child’s screen time. For more information go to: https://www.esafety.gov.au/parents/issues-and-advice/screen-time
If you have any questions or feedback on any items I am sharing, please know I welcome your contact via email – jbail154@eq.edu.au
2024 Year 6 Graduation – Parent Committee Information Session
2024 Year 6 Graduation – Parent Committee Information Session: RSVP’s Closing 16th February
If you are interested in being part of the Year 6 Graduation Parent Committee please RSVP to me via email by Friday 16th February. Once numbers are finalised, I will communicate directly with the interested parents regarding a date to meet. I anticipate this will be in Week or 6 of this term and will be a 5pm – 6pm meeting on the school site.
ASPIRE Incursion – Year 6: ‘We rise up by lifting others’
What a fantastic day of team work, collaboration, getting to know and understand others, risk-taking, grit and fun! The images say it all as our whole Year 6 cohort particpated in a fully facilitated day of outside the box learning.
Thank you to the team from ASPIRE for a great day with our students and staff. Consider ask your Year 6 child what the following messages mean for them:
A – Take ACTION, have a go
S – SERVE, be kind and give others a go
P – PERSIST through struggles and setbacks
I – INFLUENCE others and set the example
R – RESPECT for people, groups and equipment
E – ENCOURAGE others
Paula Davoren Bursary
In conjunction with MacGregor State High School and the Lion’s Club of Brisbane (MacGregor), one student in Year 6 will be the recipient of the Paula Davoren Bursary. Please visit our schools website to learn more about the application process – the bursary is open to any student who will be enrolling at MacGregor State High School for Year 7 in 2025. We will share more about this opportunity in future communication including opening dates for applications.
School Captains Corner
Principal’s Morning Tea with our 2024 Student Leaders
Continuing our Q+A With Mr Gerchow
We were so impressed by the questions captains came prepared with… here are two more!
Q. What inspired you to be an educator?
A. Back when I was in high school, I never thought or wanted to be a teacher – by accident, I got into a course at University and, although I wasn’t sure if I liked it, I persevered. It wasn’t until I got to do my Pre-service opportunities in a school, that I realised this is what I want to do.
Q. What are you really proud of about this school?
A. I really like that we have been improving our facilities – that is a really important focus for our students and staff.
Student Leader Profiles
This week, we’ll learn more Safwan and Sarah - we hope you enjoy reading about them!
My name is Safwan
My school leader position is Library Captain
I have been at MacGregor since 2019 – Year 1
My friends call me Saf
My favourite thing to do outside of school is to go to my tuitions.
What I’d like to do when I finish school is to get a MD and then specialise to become a General Practitioner or work in cardiology.
We can make our school a better place by bringing back Danger Zone and Critical Thinking. Also, Maths Games and Maths Olympiad.
My name is Sarah
My school leader position is Sustainability Captain
I have been at MacGregor since 2018 (Prep)
My favourite activity outside of school is doing arts and crafts because it helps me relax and be proud of my work.
A charity I think we should fundraise for is the Children’s Hospital so kids with serious injuries could have an opportunity to be healthy again.
My favourite sport is touch football
In Year 6 I am most looking forward to the camp in Canberra.
We can make our school a better place by picking up rubbish and being tidy.
2024 School Captains Badge Ceremony
Thank you to our families who attended the 2024 School Captains Badge Ceremony held on Monday 5th February.
In Mr Gerchow’s absence, the following message was shared by me as Year 6 Deputy Principal:
‘Each year, Mr Gerchow takes the opportunity to share with each and every one of you key messages that he has taken from his many, many years as an experienced Principal.
One of the first messages I recall from 2023 is to be a humble leader. Wear your badge with pride and a desire to want to help others. Show care, compassion and respect.
Just last week at our Morning Tea with Mr Gerchow, his message was, ‘Your job is not to tell others what to do’…..your task is to lead the way. Lead by example and be humble. This connects well to our value of honesty. Be honest with yourself about how you interact with others.
Sometimes as a leader, things don’t always go well or go your way. The ability to accept decisions or manage disappointment is about showing resilience. You are not expected to embark on this journey on your own, so my advice to you is to make sure you have an adult at school that you know you can talk to if things don’t go your way.
We have a wonderful community of learners here at MacGregor – accepting each other for who we are is one thing that I have noticed our learners do well.
Leading with a lens of accepting the diverse attributes our peers bring to MacGregor ensures all feel included with a true sense of belonging.
And finally, and again, this goes for all of our Year 6 students, innovation and creativity – creative problem-solving means putting your ideas together to find the best solution – this could be for anything from a playground challenge right through to how to fundraise as a Year 6 team. Innovative problem solving is about looking at things from a different point of view or trying something new. Look for opportunities to do this as a leader in 2024.
With the support of your families who are here today, the guidance of your teachers and staff at MacGregor SS, I have no doubt that in your final year at MacGregor SS you will indeed….reach for the stars.’
H.O.D. Update
PARENT LEARNING FORUM
On Tuesday 6th February we held our first Parent Learning Forum for 2024, presented by Alison Hirini – Head of Department Curriculum and Lee Gerchow – Principal.
This session focussed on the topic of "Empowering Readers: A Parent Workshop on Shared Reading and Choosing Quality Literature ". The session focused on the transformative shift from reading to your child to reading with them, emphasising the collaborative and interactive aspects of shared reading experiences. We also looked at the features quality literature and how to find the ‘best fit’ book for your child.
Sessions were held at 9:30am with a repeat session offered at 5:00pm. It was great to see the parent community involved in the sessions, sharing their ideas and asking relevant questions.
Parents were surveyed towards the end of 2023 to identify topics they would be interested in learning more about. We will continue to seek feedback through the sessions to ensure we are meeting community need. The Parent Learning Forums will be held twice a term, in Week 3 and Week 7. The next workshop, which is in Week 7, will have a focus on Age-Appropriate Pedagogies. Other topics to be addressed during the year will include:
- What does it mean to achieve? Understanding the Australian Curriculum Achievement Standard.
- High Ability Learners
- How does the brain develop? - What does it mean to productively struggle?
- eLearning and Digital Tools
If parents who attended would like a copy of the slides presented, please email ahiri2@eq.edu.au and I will forward a copy to you.
PARENT LEARNING FORUM 3 – AGE-APPROPRIATE PEDAGOGIES
Date: Tuesday 5th March
Time: 9:30am or 5:00pm
Venue: MacGregor State School Hall
Keep your eye on the newsletter, MacGregor SS Facebook page and your emails for further details in the coming weeks.
Learning Engagement Team Update
MEDICATION ADMINSITRATION AT SCHOOL AND NOTIFYING OF HEALTH INFORMATION
As we start the 2024 school year, it is time to review your child’s routine or emergency medication requirements. In preparation for 2024, we request all parents/carers to drop off in person any
* health plans or medical certificates etc
* medications
* Consent to Administer Medication Form
* Record of medication administration (‘as-needed’ medication) for EpiPen & medications to be administered when required – complete annually and
* 2024 Record of medication administration (routine medication) for regular medications such as tablets for Autism Spectrum Disorder, Attention Deficit Disorder or regular asthma attacks
Please note you do not need to fill in an Administer Medication Form if your child does not have to have medication during school hours onsite at school.
However, we do appreciate if your child is taking medication outside of school hours for any reason that we are aware of this in order to cater for any emergency situations that may occur on school grounds.
Sports Update
Congratulations to the students that have been selected in a Mt Gravatt District Sporting Team to compete at Met East selection trials later this year.
Boys Touch Football – Marcus
Girls Touch Football – Markay and Mila
Boys Netball – Emmet and Isara
Swimming – Laynie, Louis and Isaac
Best of luck to these students as they prepare for the Met East trials.
Inter and Intra school sport starts next week 23rd February. Students have been busy completing trials and training over the last couple of weeks.
A reminder to parents that permission will be sort via QParents. Please check you have given permission prior to the first week of sport.
Message from The Guidance Officer
Do you often pick your child up from school and ask “how was school?”
As parents, we often hear responses like 'fine,' 'good,' or 'I forgot.' After a long day at school, this question can feel too broad and general.
If you really want to know about their day, we need to be specific….
To facilitate more meaningful conversations, consider asking specific questions that can provide insight into their day.
Here are some examples:
- Who did you spend your break time with today?
- Did you share any laughs with your friends?
- What book captured your attention during reading time?
- Did you play on the oval at break today?
- Did you face any challenges today? How did you handle them?
- If something felt challenging, what alternative approaches could you try next time?
- What accomplishment are you most proud of today?
To gain a more nuanced understanding of your child's overall experience, try implementing a rating system:
- On a scale of 1 to 10, how would you rate your day?
- Follow up with: "Tell me about why it's a [insert rating]?"
- For lower ratings, encourage a growth mindset: "You've rated your day a [insert rating]. What can you do tomorrow to make it a [inset rating]?"
While we eagerly await the details of our children's school day, it's important to recognise that they might need a moment to relax their minds and bodies before delving into school-related discussions.
I hope these conversation starters open the door to more engaging discussions with your child about their school day.
Remember, it's not just about the answers but the connections we build through these conversations.
Finance
YEAR LEVEL | ACTIVITY DESCRIPTION | COST | FINAL PAYMENT |
Prep - Year 2 | Student Resource Scheme (SRS) | $ 200.00 | 12 March 2024 |
Year 3 - Year 6 (non e-Learning laptop) | Student Resource Scheme (SRS) | $ 200.00 | 12 March 2024 |
Year 3 - Year 6 (e-Learning laptop) | Student Resource Scheme (SRS) | $ 170.00 | 12 March 2024 |
Year 2 | Toohey Forest | $ 38.00 | 20 February 2024 |
Year 4 | Shake and Stir | $ 11.00 | Overdue |
Year 5 | See the Light | $ 12.00 | 20 February 2024 |
Year 5 - Year 6 | Music Camp | $ 450.00 | Overdue |
Year 6 | Aspire Higher Leadership | $ 25.00 | Overdue |
Year 6 | Canberra Trip | $ 1,400.00 | 23 April 2024 |
Year 6 | Grip - Student Leadership | $ 59.00 | 20 February 2024 |
Hello from our Chappy Mr T.
Gong Xi Fa Cai...Happy Chinese New Year!
As we just finished our 3rd Breakfast Club for the year, there have been numerous new student volunteers putting up their hands to help out.
Sometimes, you don't know what you are going to get unless you try out and give it a go. This morning, I was impressed by the high standards of all the students who served at the various food stations. They offered great customer service and some even earned a gold coin from others.
A special shout out to Marcus and Jordan who faithfully looked after the toast, vegemite and jam. Great customer service, diligence, focus, and served until the last customer.
Thank you to who Jordan remained until the last person was served.
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.
Term One Menu 2024
There is a new menu for term 1 2024. The tuckshop will continue to make our most popular daily specials. New daily specials are available, as well as new items added to our regular menu. Check out the new menu here https://msspc.org.au/tuck-shop/
Uniform Shop
The Uniform Shop is open Monday, Wednesday and Friday 8am to 9am.
We would love to meet some volunteers to help out at the Uniform Shop on Mondays and Wednesdays.