Term 1 Week 1 2023
- Principal's News by Tracy Egan
- Team Mango We All Belong!
- Prep News by Michelle Alcorn
- Year 1 News by Melinda White
- Year 2 News by Kylie Vaughan
- Year 3 News by Ellaine Warner
- Year 4 News by Danielle O'Brien
- Year 5 News by Martin Winney
- Year 6 News by Ben Mills
- Curriculum News by Suzette Holm, Jessica Rivett and Danielle O'Brien
- Sporting News by The PE Department
- News from our Partners
Welcome Back
What a fantastic start to the 2023 school year! The students have quickly settled into routines and are building positive connections with their teachers and class mates. We have approximately 1580 students enrolled and it is wonderful to see our school values of respect, teamwork, innovation, commitment and excellence on display right from the beginning of the year.
Special thanks to the parents and carers who have done a wonderful job partnering with teachers to settle students. A very special welcome to the many new students and families who have joined our school community. We certainly hope your association with our school is a long and happy one.
I am looking forward to working in partnership with families to achieve great outcomes for all students in 2023.
Welcome Evening- Save the Date
On Thursday 9 February we will have our welcome night from 4.30-6.30pm. There will be activities and a barbeque dinner available. More details soon!
Volunteer induction
Volunteers are welcome at our school. If you are able to assist in classrooms, with excursions, on the P & C Committee, in the canteen or in any other way, we would love to hear from you.
On Friday 3 February from 8.45-9.30, Deputy Principal Martin Winney will conduct a volunteer induction session. We ask all volunteers to come along for this short session to ensure expectations and commitments are clear.
I hope to see you there!
P & C AGM
The P & C Annual General meeting will be held on Monday 13th February 2023 at 6:30pm in the Wandani centre. All parents are welcome to attend.
At the February general meeting following the AGM, we will discuss our priorities for the year and the planned excursions and special events and costs for parents.
I hope to see you there!
Calling for a School Council Representative
As an Independent Public School, we have a School Council made up of the Principal, P&C President and an equal number of parent and staff representatives.
The role of a School Council is to:
- monitor the school's strategic direction;
- approve plans and policies of the school of a strategic nature, including the annual estimate of revenue and expenditure for the school;
- monitor the implementation of the plans, policies and other relevant documents; and
- advise the Principal about strategic matters.
It is time to elect a new parent representative who can commit to the role for the next two years. This involves meeting four times a year to monitor the school's strategic direction. These meetings are usually held before the P&C from 5.15pm – 6.15pm, once per term.
If you are interested in nominating please note the following time lines.
Friday 10 February 2023- Nominations close
Monday 13 February 2023 - Voting at the P&C Meeting
Student Safety
A reminder that we all have a role to play ensuring student safety in the carpark and surrounding streets. I understand it is congested and people can get frustrated but please don’t risk our precious children’s lives for the sake of a few minutes.
QParents and QKR!
A gentle reminder that QParents and Qkr! are two separate programs for different purposes.
Both are important and we encourage you to sign up for both!
Focus of the Week
The Care Class focus that will be delivered this Friday, is before and after school routines. This focus will continue in classrooms throughout the following week.
We use the Four Cares to help us Care for Self, Others, Learning and the School Environment. In particular, students will review: how to follow Mango Hill State School before and after school routines.
Mornings
- Lining up quietly in designated areas
- Waiting patiently and quietly, in designated areas utill the bell goes
- No playing in an area until there is a teacher on duty
Afternoons
- Walking safely out to the Lookout area
- If attending after school care (PCYC), walk safely to the meeting point.
- If collecting younger siblings, walking straight to their pickup area
Everyone
- Walking bikes or scooters in and out of the school grounds.
- Wearing your hat to and from school.
- Listen to the teachers when using the Lookout area.
- Staying seated on the seats at Lookout.
- Hopping off your bike or scooter to cross at the crossings.
- When the bell rings, move straight to class to unpack and get ready for learning.
- Following instructions from all teachers and crossing supervisors.
Positions Vacant
Casual School Crossing Supervisor
Position exists for Casual School Crossing Supervisor at
Mango Hill State School.
- A School Crossing Supervisor must be able to work in all-weather conditions
- 1 hour 30 mins per day, on a rostered basis.
- Relief opportunities on your rostered days off.
- Pay Rate $33.97 per hour.
Commencement of employment for the successful applicant is dependent on:
- The favourable outcome of a health assessment.
- A Positive Notice Blue Card
- Criminal History Check
- Successful completion of training on Wednesday 8 February
Please send your resume to bsm@mangohillss.eq.edu.au
We Love Prep
It has been such a delight to see all our Prep students dressed up in their full school uniform with pride this week. They have done an absolutely amazing job learning the new routines of school, making friends and showing their teachers what they already know and are able to do. I loved visiting everyone in their classroom and seeing their big smiles.
Thank you to our parents. You have been absolute super stars this week and have played a very big role in ensuring a smooth, successful transition to school for all our students. It's the little things that support us the most such as; waiting behind the blue lines or gates in the mornings and afternoons, the kiss and go and having clear communication with your child’s teacher about how they will be travelling home each day. We thank you and appreciate you helping us in setting up these very important school routines.
Some reminders for all of us…
- Mondays can be rough. Over the weekend be sure to give some time for rest. Our students are going to be a little tired after their first week of school. then. In preparation for Monday, be consistent with morning routines in the home. Be positive. Be cheerful.
- Stay the course! Parents and caregivers are doing such a good job. Keep up the routines; one kiss, one hug, reassure your child you’ll be back at the end of the day and then leave. Prolonging the goodbye does not set your child up for a successful start!
- The carpark continues to be a challenge to navigate. Well done to those families who have braved our Look Out in the afternoons – our Preppies are so successful with this! They love crossing the road and waiting for their parents to drive in to collect them.
- How is your child getting home? Please make sure you have communicated this with your teacher each week either by email or in person so we can help your child move to where they need to be.
This week, we will have our first parade. We film our parades and students watch these in their classrooms with their teacher. Parents, you can watch from the comfort of your home! To access our Prep parades, please follow the instructions which will be emailed to you over the weekend by the classroom teachers.
Have a great week
Michelle Alcorn
Deputy Principal- Year 3
malco14@eq.edu.au
Some Things are the Same, Others are Different
We’ve all grown so much over the holidays! It was wonderful to see all of the excited, happy, smiling faces walking into Year 1 this week.
Some things have changed, but so many things have stayed the same!
When we transitioned this group of students to Year 1, ‘same and different’ was the language we used to help them to adjust. We continue to use this language as we develop consistent, predictable routines in our classrooms.
Here’s the things that have stayed the same:
*we are going to grow our brains by doing tricky work.
*we need to be in our school uniform every day, with all black shoes and a hat *we need to be responsible for our own belongings. This means unpacking our own bags at our classrooms.
*being on time each morning helps us to be ready to learn!
*coming to school each day is vital. A day missed, is a whole day of learning missed.
*taking turns, sharing and speaking kindly to each other are important at Team Mango.
*the car park can be tricky with over 1500 students, so we ask everyone to plan ahead, be patient and help everyone to be safe.
*before and after school, our playgrounds are out of bounds.
*if a big brother or sister is picking up their Year 1 sibling, the Year 1 needs to be at supervised sibling collection.
*before the 8.15 and 2.30 bells, parents wait behind the lines on the concrete and not outside the classrooms.
Here’s the things that have changed a little:
*our classrooms are in many different locations and our teachers have sorted different places for you to meet them, to assist traffic flow - make sure you read your emails from your class teacher!
*sibling collection in the afternoons is located at the piazza *we play in a playground that has Year 1s and Year 2s (and just quietly, we’ve been rocking this!).
So many things remain the same! You can help your child to adjust to all of these changes by being positive and helping them to see how many things are the same. You can also support them by being on time in the mornings and by letting them have a turn - they really can unpack their own bags and organise their belongings if we let them!
Thank you for supporting us all to have such a fabulous start to the 2023 school year. Our Year 1 teachers already love your kids and we can’t wait to help them shine.
Have a great week
Melinda White
Deputy Principal- Year 1
mwhit37@eq.edu.au
Welcome to year 2
It was so lovely to see so many smiling faces back in classrooms and in the playground on Monday.
This week we have been:
- getting to know one another through games and activities including our class Greeting Circles in the mornings.
- learning new classroom and playground routines.
- revisiting the Four Cares and establishing our classroom rules.
- diving into our new units of work to see what we already know and what our next steps are.
- enjoying our first specialist lessons with our Italian, STEM, PE and Arts teachers.
- exploring the new play equipment in the Junior Playground and clubs on offer at lunchtime.
Highlights from our students:
- Maggie in 2P said, ‘I loved making towers out of marshmallows with my friends.’
- Amelia in 2W said, ‘I liked doing Italian with Signora McEvoy.’
- Aryo in 2P said, ‘I loved seeing my friends.’
- Collins in 2P said, ‘I loved doing dancing with Mrs Kostoglou’
- Blake in 2W said, ‘I liked meeting my new teacher Mrs Wray.’
Some reminders for morning drop off:
- Please consider using the Stop, Drop and Go in the morning. The children are really developing their confidence with drop off. Your child may be ready to independently walk themselves in and unpack at their classroom. What a great way to foster your child’s independence!
- If arriving before 8:15am, please have your child wait in the Junior Undercover Area. Just a reminder that the playground and astro turf areas are out of bounds. Please stay away from the Year 2 classrooms until the 8:15am bell rings.
Some reminders for afternoon pick up time:
- Please ensure you have communicated with your child and their classroom teacher about how they will be getting home each day so we can help your child move to where they need to be.
- Children will walk themselves to the Lookout Zone at the front of the school at 2.30pm. This is a great way to pick up your child easily.
- Parents/carers wanting to collect their children from in the school should wait away from the classrooms. The Junior Undercover Area is a great place to wait.
- Children waiting for sibling pick up will be supervised in the Piazza until 3:00pm. Children attending Sibling Pick Up should be seated on the concrete under the shade structure opposite the uniform shop.
- PCYC will meet the Year 2 children in the Junior Undercover Area.
Welcome to Year 3 in 2023
Our Year 3 teachers and teacher aides are so excited about the year ahead. A special welcome to our new families. We are delighted to have you join us.
In every classroom this week, our students have settled back to school so well. It has been a pleasure to hear lots of happy holiday stories, to get updates on brothers, sisters, visiting grandparents and so on. We have also been amazed at how much children can grow in 6 weeks.
Our teachers and teacher aides are investing time this week in building their classroom communities, helping children understand classroom and playground expectations and routines in Year 3, and making sure they get to know all students better.
Learning in Year 3 Learning is underway in Year 3. You will have received and read your class newsletter for this term. This newsletter contains an overview of student learning in Term 1. This year, for the very first time, Year 3 students will sit NAPLAN in Term 1. There will be lots of news and updates to follow.
Before school and after school Just a reminder that before school, Year 3 students who arrive prior to 8:30 am may wait in either Piazza or on the Oval. Our students are doing well learning this new routine. Parents, if you arrive to collect your child prior to 2:45 pm you may wait in either Piazza or in the middle years area. Please be mindful not to wait directly outside a classroom or in the immediate surrounds of a classroom. This helps everyone care for learning! Thank you for your support.
Check out the photos of some of our students in Year 3 loving life!
Take care and have a wonderful week
Ellaine Warner
Deputy Principal- Year 3
ewarn23@eq.edu.au
Wonderful Start in Year 4!
Welcome back to school to all of our Year 4 families and a special welcome to those new to Mango Hill State School.
This week, our teachers have worked really hard to establish routines and build positive relationships in their rooms. I have seen many happy faces and engaged learners, working collaboratively and supporting each other to reach their learning goals. Our Term 1 schoolwide theme is all about ‘Team Mango’ and I am so proud of the way our Year 4 classes are representing Team Mango to start the year.
As we start the new school year, it is important to remind your children of the before school procedures. We kindly ask that Year 4 students and parents wait in the Middle Years Area or Oval where there is supervision until the 8:30am bell, and not in front of classrooms or outside the bag racks. Our teachers are all working hard in this time before school, preparing engaging lessons for the day.
Also, if you arrive to collect your child prior to 2:45 pm you may wait in either Piazza or in the middle years area. Please be mindful not to wait directly outside a classroom or in the immediate surrounds of a classroom. This helps everyone care for learning! We appreciate your support in reinforcing these procedures with your children.
Check out the photos below from across our classrooms!
have a wonderful week
Danielle O'Brien
Deputy Principal- Year 4
dxobr0@eq.edu.au
Care for Learning in Year 5
It was wonderful to see all the smiling faces of Year 5 students as they returned to school this week. As I visited classrooms, I observed teachers building great connections with their students and between their students. I loved hearing the start classes have made in their specialist lessons and hearing classes celebrate getting 10/10 points for their lesson. I also had the opportunity in reading some fantastic pre-test writing samples that teachers will use to celebrate success as well as a tool to plan their teaching. On the Monday I visited each classroom and gave each student the following challenge to consider and meet – what were they going to do to be a positive leader of our cares and values this year? It was wonderful hearing the examples of things each person could do to be a positive influence in our school. I look forward in working with all of our students and teachers to achieve great outcomes in 2023.
Martin Winney
Deputy Principal –Year 5 & 6
mwinn7@eq.edu.au
Welcome back to Year 6!
Year 6 have made an impressive start to their final year of primary school this week. It has been fantastic to see so many of them setting great examples as role models of our school community, through wearing the uniform with pride and making great choices in the classroom and in the playground. I know they will have a positive influence on Team Mango this year!
On Monday, I met with our school captains to discuss their hopes and ambitions as leaders of our school this year. I was so impressed to hear their thinking, with a focus on respect, inclusion and kindness standing out amongst their responses. Mango Hill State School are in great hands with this wonderful group of students!
Over the first few weeks, we will be reinforcing the importance of key messages with students, including uniform expectations, before and after school waiting areas and playtime areas. A reminder to all families that students may wait in the Piazza or on the Senior Astro turf area (underneath the Year 5 and 6 block) before school, or they may play on the oval or multipurpose court. Each day, students should have plain back shoes and plain white socks to go with their Mango Hill State School uniform. Our students have made a great start at meeting these expectations.
Year 6 is a wonderful year where our students will make many great memories. I look forward to being a part of the journey with them and you in 2023!
Have a super week
Ben Mills
Deputy Principal – Year 6
bxmil3@eq.edu.au
Have a fantastic week
Suzette Holm, Jessica Rivett
shol0@eq.edu.au
Physical Education News
Hello to those families returning for 2023 and welcome to those who are joining the Mango Hill school community. Mr Tyson Newell, Miss Connie Richards, Mr Callum Lisha and Mr Nick Hills are back teaching PE and are very much looking forward to getting back to business in Term 1.
We have many events in Term 1 for students so we wanted you to be aware of everything that will be occurring. Attached is the Term 1 MHSS PE Calendar. It has all the important dates for all MHSS events, as well as Pine Rivers and Metropolitan North Representative Events. If you have any questions regarding these events please do not hesitate to contact any of the PE team via phone/email or you are welcome to pop into our office, which is located on the first floor of M Block (closest building to the oval).
Pine Rivers District Sporting Trials (10-12yr Old’s)
Pine Rivers District School Sport offers 10-12 Year old students the opportunity to compete at Metropolitan North trials and carnivals, with the possibility of selection into teams competing at State events. Students must be nominated by their school in order to attend a district trial or carnival.
Students who express an interest to trial can collect forms from our PE office. They will be given the Pine Rivers District forms and the relevant trial information. Completed district forms are to be returned to the PE office by the due date. Once the forms are collated, students will be nominated for the trial. Forms are then handed back to students and must then be taken to the coach/manager at the District Trials. Students will NOT be allowed to trial if district forms are not handed in completed. Unless specifically organised by the school, it is the parents’ responsibility to transport students to and from district trials.
Most Pine Rivers District trials are limited to students turning 11 or 12 years of age and who are considered at a high level in the sport e.g. Div. 1 or A Grade. Cross Country, Athletics and Swimming trials however are open for students turning 10, 11 and 12 years of age. Sports that students are able to trial for include;
- AFL
- Basketball
- Cricket
- Football (Soccer)
- Golf
- Hockey
- Netball
- Rugby League
- Rugby Union
- Softball
- Squash
- Tennis
- Touch
- Triathlon
Mango Hill can normally nominate up to three students for each district sport trial. If more than three students wish to be nominated Mango Hill will select the three best candidates for the trial. The selection of these students may be either based on past performances/current club form or through a selection trial at school.
If you are interested in your child trialling for Pine Rivers District more information can be obtained from the Mango Hill State School newsletter, with regular trial updates listed. You can also contact Mr Nick Hills - nhill96@eq.edu.au (MHSS PE Teacher) so he is aware of your intention to attend the trial.
MHSS Cross Country (Year Prep-6)
All students from Years Prep to 6 will be competing in the 2023 MHSS Cross Country Race. This is completed in the morning and or middle session of school with students competing in a long-distance race with their age group peers. More information regarding the Cross Country will be available later in the term. Dates are:
- Year Prep-2: Thursday Week 9 - 23 March
- Year 3-6: Friday Week 9 – 24 March
Sporting Schools (Year Prep-6)
The Sporting Schools program will once again be running in 2023. Sporting Schools is a national initiative, run by the Australian Sports Commission, which aims to help children foster a lifelong interest in sport, gain a healthier mind and body, have fun and learn sport activities and games skills in a safe environment. The Sporting Schools program is open to all Mango Hill students from Prep-Year 6. Each term Mango Hill will host coaching sessions at school for the chosen sports. At this stage Mango Hill will attempt to host two sports each term, one for students in Prep-Year 2 (up to 20 students) and another for students in Year 3-6 (up to 20 students). These sessions usually run afterschool from 3.00pm-4.00pm. More information will be available in the school newsletter shortly.
Mr Hills & Mr Newell, Miss Richards and Mr Lisha
Physical Education Teachers
Uniform Shop News
Shop Hours During Week 10
Monday 8:00am-10:30am
Tuesday 8:00am-10:30am
Wednesday 1:30pm-4:00pm
Thursday 1:30pm-4:00pm
Friday 8:00am-10:30am
Welcome to all our new and returning families! We hope you had a lovely break and are ready for the new year.
Hats! We currently have all sizes in Flynn (blue) and Walker (orange) hats; we are still waiting on Barton (green) hats to come in.
We also offer online orders. Orders can be placed through our website any time at www.wearitto.com.au/schools/mango-hill-state-school
Orders are packed through the uniform shop during our opening hours and an email is sent to let you know when your order is ready to be picked up, or, if you'd like your student to bring the uniforms home with them, email us at mangohill@wearitto.com.au with your student's name and class name and we can get it to them.
P and C News
Looking for Volunteers
We are looking for volunteers to help out at our first school event on Thursday 9 February.
The P and C are looking for volunteers to cook and sell food on site.
If you can help, please sign on at the following link
To sign up, just follow the instructions on the page. It only takes a few seconds to do.
Thank you for volunteering!
Amy Swalwell
president@mhsspandc.com.au