MacGregor State School Newsletter 2024 - Edition 10
From the Principal
Happy Holidays!
I would like to take this opportunity to wish each and every family a happy and safe winter vacation and thank everyone for their contributions to our great school. Last night the P&C held a super-successful disco which raised significant funds for our school. Sincere thanks to the many volunteers and staff who made the night such great fun!
Many thanks to our wonderful teachers, teacher-aides and ancillary workers whose contribution is invaluable in maintaining our school as a beacon of excellence in our community. We hope our hard-working staff enjoy a relaxing holiday and come back recharged and ready for Semester 2.
Personally, I would like to thank my wonderful leadership team for their unswerving support throughout the semester and in particular thank Ms Tyler Moore for filling in as Acting Deputy Principal whilst Mrs Ghusn is on long-service leave.
Clarification: Change to academic awards in 2024.
Last year, MacGregor State School opted to discontinue the formal academic awards assembly for Prep as this does not align to contemporary approaches to early childhood education and was resulting in a portion of the cohort being excluded from recognition. This was replaced by a Prep Graduation badge presentation recognizing the end of the Preparatory Year and the transition to Primary Education.
Our Year 1 – 3 teams have decided to discontinue the Academic Awards Assembly for their year levels in 2024 for the same reasons and replace this with in-class award certificates for all students for their achievements this year. All students will receive awards whether for Academic Excellence, Great Citizenship, Big effort or improvement in a subject area or something their teacher has noticed them trying very hard to achieve over the year. Children who have demonstrated Educational Excellence in academic areas will still receive recognition.
Whilst parents will see an end to the formal awards ceremonies for these year levels, parents will be invited to share these opportunities in classrooms, eliminating some of the large assemblies in the hall during the hottest and busiest season of the year. This decision was discussed at the P&C meeting on 21/5/2024 and endorsed by the P&C and we thank them for contributing generously $2500 towards awards.
Awards ceremonies for Years 4-6, Performing Arts and Sports will remain as our community have come to expect with no significant changes to these proposed. Galas will also remain in the usual format.
Prep and Year One
Welcome to Week 10!
The past couple of weeks have been very busy wrapping up our learning and participating in end of term activities. It has been wonderful getting to know all the children and witness such beautiful learning taking place as the students have shown me around the school. I would like to thank the whole school community for making me feel welcome.
Last week we had many of our Prep and Year 1 students participating in arts week performances during lunch times, it was brilliant to see their hard work and dedication to their respected groups. This week was our sports day, we saw many excited little faces ready to earn points for their teams. It was great to see the excellent participation and families supporting their little people.
In the lead up to the school holidays I wish everyone a safe and happy holiday period. Mrs Ghusn will be back from her overseas holiday at the beginning of next term.
Year Four and Five
As we come to the end of yet another busy term at MacGregor, take some time to reflect on the positive things that may have happened this term.
Personally, having my eldest child in Year 6 has prompted me to consider not just academic achievements, but the kind of person my child is becoming. Have I equipped him with the mindset and emotional intelligence necessary to positively influence those around him? For my youngest in Year 1, I’ve celebrated his perseverance and effort, even when he faces challenges.
Free Science Incursion: In the first week of the term, we have been given the opportunity to participate in a workshop presented by Street Science and Urban Utilities based on how the water and sewerage systems work in our city. This workshop is free and links to our Science and HASS units for Term 3. Online consent has been sent out and paper copies will be sent home on Thursday for those not on QParents. The Consent deadline for QParents and paper copies is Tuesday 9th July.
Paper Planes: The Year 4 classes to finalise their Science unit in Term 2 have been busy learning about paper planes and learning what they need to do to make them fly further. On the last day of term they will be have a class Vs class paper plane competition. Some photos below of them having a test run!
5CD love Reading
Each term 5CD choose a class novel which they read over the term. For Term 2 it was ‘The Wild Robot’ by Peter Brown. To explore this book even more, Mrs Sawbridge and Ms Warren choose activities for the students to do in pairs and small groups. They have created their own ‘islands’ and ‘character profiles’ for the setting and characters in the book.
On May 22nd, 5CD also participated in the National Simultaneous storytime event where a book written by an Australian author is read simultaneously around Australia. The book this year was Bowerbird Blues by Aura Parker. The students then participated in an art class where the author directed them to draw the bird and then they created their own back grounds for their own Bowerbird.
Year Six
And here we are at the end of Term 2…half way through our year of learning at MacGregor State School!
Well done to our Year 6 students who now have just two terms left of primary school. Next term, we ramp up the graduation planning so please make sure you keep up to date with communication via email and fortnightly newsletter.
As we reflect on the last 10 weeks, we acknowledge the increased collaboration between home and school to ensure our students/ your children are safe when interacting online. This includes through the use of both school devices and devices your child uses at home.
Next term, we are providing very clear expectations to all e-learning participants (and students who access school devices) that will be displayed clearly in classrooms regarding the following:
- Students are not to use their devices for ‘free-time’. This includes before and after school and during wet-weather play when students need to stay inside;
- Students are asked to have a physical book to read – this can come from home or the library. They will not be using their device for silent reading during school time;
- Students are not permitted to access email unless directed by their class teacher.
We trust these expectations will support a balance of device and non-device time across the school day. You can support us by ensuring you have regular conversations with your child about what is acceptable screen time. To make this easy for you, we have included a publication from the e-safety Commissioners website this week on how to help have this conversation with your child. You can also visit https://www.esafety.gov.au/parents/issues-and-advice/screen-time
DID YOU KNOW? MacGregor State School now has the e-Safety Commissioners website on our school website landing page?
Please revisit the MacGregor State School E-learning (Laptop) Rules and Expectations with your child/ children. The holidays are a great time to have these important conversations so that you and your child are aware of the expectations of e-learning at MacGregor State School.
Finally, I’d like to say thank you to the Year 6 teaching team for their commitment and dedication this semester….it really is a privilege to work alongside each and every one of you as we collectively support, guide and nurture our Year 6 students.
Pictured trying to solve a pretzel puzzle during a recent professional learning day is Miss Hartley, Mrs Chiang, Mrs, Jones, Mrs, Harvey, Miss French, Ms Yip, Mr McNab and Mr Pippos (Mr Grady absent).
To our families, have a safe winter break and we’ll see you back at school on Monday 8th July.
ICAS Maths at Macgregor State School 2024 *NOW OPEN*
26th to 30th August 2024
MacGregor State School will be offering parents the opportunity for their child from Year 3 to Year 6 to participate in ICAS Mathematics. This will be the only assessment offered on the school site due to the significant logistics involved in administering three assessments across five different year levels.
Payment and registration for Maths will again be facilitated directly with ICAS – parents of students from Year 3 to Year 6 are invited to register their child any time from now.
Follow these simple instructions:
- Go to the Parent Portal to sign up to chosen subject areas:
(shop.icasassessments.com/pages/pps)
- Enter our school’s access code –FJQ505
- Enter your child’s details, select the subject areas your child would like to participate in, then proceed to payment. Please note: we are ONLY offering Maths in 2024.
After payment is made via the Parent Payment System, you will receive an order confirmation email, please keep this for your records.
Parents of our Year 2 students have been emailed information specific to their year level.
Parents are welcome to access the link below should they wish to liaise directly with ICAS for their child to sit assessments at an ICAS nominated testing centre, one of which is located in Brisbane:
https://www.icasassessments.com/contact-directory/
Please note that places are limited and you are advised to contact ICAS as soon as possible to secure your place.
For any questions relating to ICAS, parents are asked to contact ICAS directly on 1800 931 775
Parents can contact Ms Bailey for any ICAS Maths support – jbail154@eq.edu.au
*APPLICATIONS NOW OPEN*
https://macgregorss.eq.edu.au/our-community/the-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 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.
H.O.D. Update
We would like to take the opportunity to thank all our teachers, students and parents for making Term 2 a great term of learning. We look forward to seeing all the exciting things unfold in Term 3.
PARENT LEARNING FORUM
Our next Parent Learning Forum is scheduled for Tuesday 23rd July. These workshops are held twice a term and give our community the opportunity to connect and learn about a range of topics.
The first workshop for Term 3 will be on “Understanding and Responding to Challenging Behaviours” and will be presented by our Guidance Officer - Ms Megan Brodie and Deputy Principal - Mrs Sandi Keating.
Please see the information below about the workshop and scan the QR Code to register your interest in attending
SEWING CLUB
Term 2 sewing club was filled with lots of chatter as new skills were developed. We are so fortunate to have the assistance of our lovely volunteers who share their knowledge and skill with the students. They are looking forward to seeing the students again next term for more great sewing projects.
Inclusion Team Update
Celebrating NAIDOC WEEK 2024
National NAIDOC Week celebrations are held across Australia in the first week of July each year (Sunday to Sunday), to celebrate and recognise the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. NAIDOC Week is an opportunity for all Australians to learn about First Nations cultures and histories and participate in celebrations of the oldest, continuous living cultures on earth.
The theme for 2024 is ‘Keep the Fire Burning! Blak, Loud and Proud’.
This year Macgregor State School will be celebrating NAIDOC week in Term 3, week 1.
We will be having a Junior and Senior NAIDOC week assembly for our students and staff on Friday morning the 12th of July in the Hall. Juniors prep to 2 at 9:00am and seniors years 3 to 6 at 10:00am.
This assembly will involve a ‘Welcome to Country’, an explanation of the theme and significance of NAIDOC week, a choir performance and instructions for our school-wide NAIDOC week activity.
This year each class will be given a calico material square to create an art piece to be sewn together to make a quilt like tapestry hanging display for our hall to serve as an artefact for display.
If you wish to support your child in learning more about NAIDOC week please refer to the link below.
Link: https://www.naidoc.org.au
Sports Update
Congratulations to Jontae who has been selected in the Met East Softball team.
Jontae will now prepare with his team for the State Championships to be held later this year.
All the best Jontae
Do not miss out on BMTA’s special edition Touch Football Holiday Camp this June, where staff from the Brisbane Broncos will be in attendance the morning of day one to run games and activities! The camp runs over four days with new activities and drills each day! The kids are sure to have a fun and jam-packed time, meet new friends and learn new skills. Morning tea and lunch are included, plus a free footy each! Head to https://brisbane-metropolitan-touch-association.square.site/product/juneholidaycamp/53 to register now!
Message from The Guidance Officer
Dear Families,
It has been a pleasure connecting with many of you and supporting your children. I'm grateful to have worked with so many families—it has been incredibly rewarding and wonderful to see each child's progress.
It takes a collaborative team effort to support children’s needs. Your involvement and commitment to your child's social and emotional well-being have been invaluable.
Key Dates for Next Term:
Friday, 16th August
National Day Against Bullying and Violence
What to wear: Purple T-shirt
This is Australia’s key bullying prevention initiative. It connects schools and communities to find workable solutions to prevent bullying.
Thursday, 12th September 2024
R U OK? Day
What to wear: Yellow T-shirt
R U OK? is a public health promotion charity that encourages people to stay connected and have conversations that can help others through difficult times in their lives.
Have a lovely break. See you in Term 3 😊
Finance
The Finance Payment Window is open on Tuesday mornings from 8.00am - 9.45am. Cash and eftpos facilities available.
Payment plans are available. Please contact our Finance Officer to discuss.
Hello from our Chappy Mr T.
Congratulations to all for completing Semester 1. Happy holidays to those travelling or just staying home to rest and sleep in 🙂
Whatever your plans, family time is a time to cherish the moments together.
As the school holidays is just around the corner, we- the staff and students, all are looking forward to end Semester 1 well. During the holidays, family support is still available through many outside agencies. You can find this on this one convenient website- https://askizzy.org.au/
Whether you need help with food, housing, counselling, DV help etc askizzy.org.au can help you find the right services closest to your location.
For some, it may be a hard time with the cost-of-living pressures. There are some charities that you can access during these holidays.
Details below for a charity at 2 locations offering free food hampers and other low cost items to purchase.
Open to the public. Mon-Fri 8.30am-4.30pm
Free food hampers to collect Mon-Fri 9am-12pm only. No questions asked, no eligibility criteria.
Low cost groceries to buy. Free bread and fruit and vegies whenever its available.
Op Shop- affordable household items.
Citipointe Marketplace Carindale
322 Wecker Rd Carindale
Ph- 3347 5896
https://www.facebook.com/citipointecarindalemarketplace/
Ask Izzy: Find the help you need, now and nearby Ask Izzy is a mobile website that connects people in need with housing, a meal, money help, health and wellbeing services, family violence support, counselling and much more. askizzy.org.au |
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 Two Menu 2024
There is a new menu for term 2 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. Take a look at the new menu here https://msspc.org.au/tuck-shop/
Uniform Shop
New volunteers always welcome - come join our volunteer pool. We have regular volunteers but always need extra people on standby in case of sickness. Contact Kathryn at the Uniform Shop if interested on uniformshop@msspc.org.au.
We are running low on Microfibre Jackets but should have more stock available for the beginning of Term 3. Plenty of stock on our other Winter items.
We are still selling souvenirs from our Golden Jubilee celebrations. Purchase one of our tea towels, umbrellas, cookbooks, badges or lion mascot keyrings and take home a piece of MacGregor history.
Chess Club
School Holiday Programs
