Term 1 Week 4 2024
- Principal's News by Ange Padgett
- Prep News by Mieke Munko
- Year 1 News by Melinda White
- Year 2 News by Kylie Vaughan
- Year 3 News by Kris Olsen
- Year 4 News by Danielle O'Brien
- Year 5 News by Greg McCallum
- Year 6 News by Ben Mills
- Curriculum News
- Sporting News by The PE Department
- News from our Partners
- Community News
Another fantastic week Team Mango!
Over the past week, I’ve had the pleasure of visiting our Year 2 and Year 5 classrooms to conduct Learning Walks and Talks. This procedure allows teams of teachers and leaders to talk to students about what they are learning. Learning Walks and Talks are always a highlight of my week. The majority of our students had a well-developed understanding about what they are learning and were able to articulate the purpose behind their learning. Teachers had provided students with individualised feedback so they could see what it is they are doing well but also what their next steps are. Some students were even able to evidence where they had used this feedback! It’s impressive work and I’d like to congratulate our teachers and students for their commitment to this!
I’m pleased to announce that Ms Belinda Todman has been nominated as a school council member. The school council’s role is to work alongside the school to think strategically about the school’s operations and improvement agenda. I’m looking forward to welcoming Ms Todman to this forum.
Please find attached to this newsletter, an overview of costs for 2024, as approved by the P&C. Please note these costs are approximate only and are subject to change. Should anyone be finding it difficult to meet payment deadlines, please contact the school to arrange a payment plan if needed.
This Monday our Year 6 leaders will be attending the Halagen Leaders’ Conference. The school has covered the cost of entry ($50 per student) but parents are asked to pay for the cost of buses.
Our Year 1 and 2s commence swimming soon. Please set a reminder in your phone to ensure your child has all the necessary requirements.
Please see swimming timetable below.
Water Safety Program
The Queensland Government is committed to providing a high quality water safety and swimming education program. In line with the department’s P – 12 Curriculum Assessment and Reporting Framework, Queensland state schools are required to provide a water safety and swimming education program in Prep to Year 6.
At Mango Hill State School we already provide a swimming education program for students in P – Year 3. Water safety education is also provided as part of our school camp programs in Years 4 – 6.
In 2024, our Prep – Year 3 students will continue their swimming education program with our Year 1 and 2 students swimming in Term 1 and our Prep and Year 3 students swimming in Term 4. Lessons in 2024 will be extended from 30 to 45 minutes to include the teaching of water safety skills along with swimming.
Our Year 4 – 6 students will also continue their water safety education as part of the school camp program. In addition to the camp programs in 2024, our Year 4 – 6 students will also complete a Water Safety Program with Surf Life Saving Queensland.
This one hour water-based program will be delivered by Surf Life Saving Queensland staff in Week 9 of Term 3. This program increases students’ skills and confidence in the water with a variety of water safety and lifesaving techniques.
While all year levels will have the opportunity to develop their skills in the water, all students will also have the opportunity to participate in a Queensland Health Beach Safety presentation delivered by Surf Life Saving Queensland in Week 10 of Term 4. Teachers will also deliver a series of water safety lessons in classroom to follow up from this presentation.
We are excited to provide these new opportunities building our children’s skills to keep them happy, healthy and safe in and around water.
Thank you to those who completed the recent ‘Communication Survey’. I have read through each survey response. The overall feedback was very positive, thank you! There were some patterns that presented. It’s clear to see that our community would like to:
- Continue to receive the newsletters each week
- Continue with the updates on FaceBook and some of our families would like even more
- Continue to send out our term overviews (I apologise for the lateness of Term 1’s however we were busy behind the scenes trying to secure bookings before we could release)
- Add an overview of the upcoming events in our newsletter
Once again, our school appreciates this feedback and will continue to grow and suit the needs of our community and students. We will email out a more detailed response from the survey in the coming days.
Please see below a calendar of upcoming events. Feel free to print this out and stick it on the fridge!
Ange Padgett
Principal
apadg6@eq.edu.au
Mathematics in Prep
In the first year of schooling, students develop a sense of number, order, sequence, pattern and position in relation to familiar settings.
This term we are focusing on number, including counting forwards and backwards and making connections between number names, numerals and quantities. We are also learning about grouping and sorting shapes and objects. Here some Prep students practising number recognition and counting this week.
Ways you can help at home include the following.
- Sharing counting stories and songs.
- Counting aloud when doing things together like walking up or down stairs, setting the table, getting pegs for the washing.
- Noticing and naming numbers when out and about, for example in letterboxes, car registration plates or buses.
Happy counting!
Speaking and Listening
We’ve been working hard on our speaking and listening skills in Year 1.
We are specifically working on sharing an opinion, listening to the opinion of others and asking questions about the opinion of others. We’re working to listen, and respond appropriately and to match our questions to what has been said.
As a speaker, we need to stay on topic!
As a listener, we need to actively listen.
In 1F, we read The Wonky Donkey. Ms Franklin heard an opinion from a student about the book and a character. Students used this opinion to make thoughtful decisions about what a good question to ask could be.
Would we ask about a dog, when the opinion was about a donkey?
Is sharing our own thought, the same as asking a question?
How can we show the speaker we were listening well and responding appropriately?
You can help us develop these skills at home by:
* making us wait and listen to something you have said, before we respond
* showing us what a good listener looks like, by actively listening when we share with you
* sharing opinions about things. “I like this book because it made me laugh.”
Oral language is the foundation for all literacy learning. Lots of talking in the home environment helps your children to learn key skills of listening and responding appropriately
Have a lovely week.
Melinda White
Deputy Principal- Year 1
mwhit37@eq.edu.au
Exploring Counting Patterns
Our Year 2s are doing a wonderful job exploring counting patterns in Maths. They are doing lots of skip counting in 2s, 3s and 5s both forwards and backwards as well as creating their own number patterns starting from different numbers.
Look at this great work from the children in 2L who have been using number patterns to solve a real world problem about fences.
There are lots of ways you can help your child develop their confidence with skip counting.
- Practise counting aloud in 2s, 3s and 5s both forwards and backwards. Start at different numbers not just from 2, 3 and 5.
- Have your child count every day items counting them in 2s (e.g. socks, shoes, eyes, knives and forks), 5s (e.g. fingers, toes).
- Count coins and notes of the same denomination (e.g. Count amounts made with $2 coins or $5 coins/notes etc.)
Upcoming Reptile Incursion
The students in Year 2 are getting very excited about our upcoming reptile incursion. Classes will participate in this incursion on the following days.
- Wednesday 28 February – 2C, 2F and 2I
- Thursday 29 February – 2E, 2M and 2R
- Friday 1 March – 2L, 2P and 2T
Consent and invoices went home via email last week. Please ensure you’ve completed the consent and paid so your child can attend this wonderful experience.
Kylie Vaughan
Deputy Principal- Year 2
kvaug3@eq.edu.au
Entertaining through narratives
This week our Year 3 students have transformed into authors by creating entertaining narratives. To support our students, we have been following the structure of beginning, problem, problem explosion and ending.
In class students use a range of strategies to capture their ideas and organise paragraphs. This can be practised at home following the same planning structure. You will be amazed at how great our authors are!
Welcome Event
A big thank you for coming to our welcome afternoon last week. I enjoyed connecting with families and seeing our students engaging in activities with their teachers.
Morning Meetings in Year 4
All of our Year 4 classes start their day with a Morning Meeting.
This is where our students complete the following.
- Greet each other.
- Discuss our school Values and class Expectations.
- Share announcements that relate to themselves
- Participate in a Positive Primer aimed to energise, build positivity and laughter.
- Share a What Went Well for them during their morning.
Our morning meetings allow our teachers to connect with each of their students in the class, setting a positive start to the day.
Check out some photos below from our classes during their morning meeting time.
Place Value
Over this year, our students are recognising, reading and representing five-digit numbers.
Ways you can help at home…
- Practise reading four- and five- digit numbers when you are out and about. Price tags, signs, measurements… They’re everywhere!
- Playing riddles with your children – I am thinking of a number, it has 4 tens, 6 is the digit in the thousands place and 3 hundreds. What number could I be?
Danielle O'Brien
Deputy Principal- Year 4
dxobr0@eq.edu.au
Educational Achievement
Year 5 classes have recently welcomed members of the leadership team into their rooms to view the amazing learning that has been taking place in the first four weeks of school. It was fantastic to see the quality narratives and persuasive texts students have produced in such a short amount of time. There was a lot to celebrate including students being able to identify the strengths in their writing as well as the next step to ‘bump up their work’.
Teachers have also been working hard at getting to know their students as learners. This includes working in teams to identify strengths and areas for improvement and how we can support students in their next steps. As a partner in your child’s education, please contact the class teacher if you have insights that you would like to share.
Wellbeing and Attendance
Thank you for such a positive start to the year in regards to attendance. Unless your child is ill it is important they attend school every day.
Research shows that in Queensland, higher student attendance is associated with higher student achievement. Additionally, attending school every day helps children to build social and emotional skills such as communication, teamwork and resilience.
If you are experiencing difficulties getting your chid to school, please contact the office so we can put in the appropriate supports to assist.
Greg McCallum
Deputy Principal- Year 5
gmcca24@eq.edu.au
Learning in Year 6
This week I had the pleasure of seeing the learning in 6G. Mr Goulding tasked the class with developing ideas for a short story, from a given prompt, that involved a twist. Together, 6G students brainstormed a range of creative story ideas before completing their planning template for their story.
I look forward to reading their stories later this week, even though I know what the twist will be!
Mango Mentors
During the week, I visited our Year 6 classrooms and was able to present 35 students with Mango Mentor badges. These students have consistently demonstrated the Four Cares and Five Values and wear their uniform with pride. Team Mango are so lucky to have such amazing leaders in Year 6 that are willing to volunteer their time to make Team Mango a better place.
It’s not too late for our Year 6 students to become a Mango Mentor for 2024. Any Year 6 student who successfully completes their Student Leadership Passport (these can be collected from the office), can become a Mango Mentor throughout the year.
This year, our Mango Mentors will take on special roles, mentoring students across the lower school by supporting them socially, emotionally and academically. Congratulations, Mango Mentors!
Student Leader Badge Ceremony
This Friday, we will be presenting our Student Captains for 2024 with their badges. Our Captains have already been active in their roles this year, welcoming families at the front and back gate, handing out awards and communicating the Care Class focus of the week with classes across the school.
The Badge Ceremony will begin at 9am in Gigum Hall. I look forward to celebrating this great achievement with our Student Captains and their families!
Cybersafety in Year 6
On Wednesday 28 February, Year 6 will attend a presentation from the QLD police around cybersafety. This will occur in the Wandani Centre. Consent forms will be sent out via QParents this week.
This is a fantastic opportunity for our students to be educated around how to use technology in a safe way and to be good digital citizens.
Ben Mills
Deputy Principal –Year 6
bxmil3@eq.edu.au
Borrowing
It has been great to see so many students borrowing from the Hub in the last couple of weeks. Building a positive disposition to reading is such an important part of becoming a successful reader. Choosing a book and sharing it with loved ones is a great way to build and continue these positive feelings towards reading.
Returning our books before borrowing another one can sometimes be tricky, so don’t forget to check with Class teachers about the borrowing day and time for each class. A library bag also ensures our books are well looked after. Your library bag can be a special one purchased from the uniform shop or any plastic or fabric bag.
The Hub is open every morning from 8.15am and until 3pm every afternoon. We look forward to seeing you soon!
Future Science
This week our Future Science students had their first lesson for the year with Mrs Hills, learning all about the history of the Periodic Table. We will be working closely with Mango Hill State Secondary Collage to learn about chemical reactions.
Code Camp
We understand the challenge parents face when choosing after-school activities for their kids. So we are inviting students aged 7+ at Mango Hill State School to attend a complimentary coding lesson hosted by an experienced Code Camp facilitator.
In this live online one-hour guided lesson, students will experience the fun and creativity of coding an arcade-style game within our bespoke learning platform, Code Camp World.
We have a range of days and times outside of school hours starting Monday 12 February. Please visit https://www.codecamp.com.au/offers/free-coding-lesson?utm_source=schools&utm_campaign=free-coding-trial-flyer&utm_term=no-offer&last_source=schools&last_campaign=free-coding-trial-flyer&last_offer=no-offer to receive this offer.
Have a fantastic week
Suzette Holm, Jessica Rivett
shol0@eq.edu.au
Miss Hodges got Married!
A big congratulations from the PE team and the MHSS community to Miss Hodges, who married last week in Tasmania. Miss Hodges will now be known by her new name, Mrs Fuller.
AFLQ Schools Cup Trials (Year 4-6)
The AFLQ Schools Cup is a statewide AFL competition amongst primary schools, with Mango Hill competing initially in the Brisbane North Regional playoffs. AFL QLD coordinates the competition with all matches played under the Laws of the game promulgated by the AFL.
In 2024, Mango Hill State School will again be entering a Primary Boys and Primary Girls team in the AFLQ Schools Cup competition. These teams are open for all students from Year 4-6. The Brisbane North Regional Playoff date will be in Term 2.
Trials
Trials for these two teams will be conducted via lunchtime AFL Clubs on Thursdays 2nd break (Girls) and Friday 2nd break (Boys) on the MHSS Oval. There will also be an afterschool trial at 3.00pm-4.00pm on Tuesday 20 February (wk. 5). Attendance at either the AFL Club or afternoon trial will help your child gain selection in our initial training squad. A final team to attend the AFLQ Schools Cup day will be selected early in Term 2.
Students interested in trialing can add their name to the signup sheet which is located on the PE notice board in M Block (in front of PE office).
Equipment/Uniform
If selected, a Mango Hill State School AFL jersey, shorts and socks will be provided for competition days at no cost. Students will need to provide their own protective equipment (mouthguard) and will require football boots (no metal tags).
Training
If selected in the team, there is an expectation that students commit to attending AFL training, which will be held Thursday afternoon 3.00pm-4.00pm and during AFL Club lunch breaks.
Cost
There are no initial costs associated with the competition. If teams progress further in the competition travel and playing costs may apply.
If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact team manager Nick Hills (nhill96@eq.edu.au).
MHSS Senior Cross Country (Year 3-6)
On Friday 1st March 2024 (Term 1, Week 6) the Mango Hill State School Years 3-6 Senior Cross Country will be run. Attached is the timetable (please note there are 2 pages) and map for the day. Students will be instructed during PE lessons of their course and will also complete a walk through prior to the day.
All students from Year 3 to Year 6 will be running their cross country course. Students have different distances for their races (see below). The course is colour coded with markers, so depending on their race distance, students follow different marker colours (this is also on the map attached).
|
Age |
Track Distance |
|
Born 2016 & 2015 |
1.5km |
|
Born 2014 |
2km |
|
Born 2013 & 2012 |
3km |
Students who place in the top 3 for their race will receive ribbons on the podiums straight after their race. For each event students accrue house points that go towards the Cross Country House Championship. Each event has the following points:
|
Place |
Points |
|
1st |
10 |
|
2nd |
8 |
|
3rd |
6 |
|
4th |
4 |
|
5th |
2 |
|
All Other |
1 |
Therefore, each student that participates in an event will receive at least 1 point for their house. We strongly encourage all students to participate in the cross country, however if your child cannot complete the course due to injury or illness can you please inform their class teacher.
On the day students will still assemble in class as per normal at 8.30am. They will then come to the oval with their class (at their designated time as per the attachment). Some frequently asked questions have been answered below.
- My son/daughter is in Year 4. Do they run in the Morning or Middle session? For sporting events students compete according to their ‘Year of Birth’ not their grade level. Therefore, if your son/daughter is born in 2014 - they will run in the morning and if your son/daughter is born in 2015 – they will run in the middle session.
- What do students wear? – Hats must be worn to the oval but students are allowed to complete the course without their hats on (sunscreen is provided and all students must put their hat back on immediately following the race). Normal sports uniform shirt is to be worn (no house coloured shirts). Normal sports uniform shorts can be worn and students are permitted to wear running shorts/skins during the race.
- Do students have to wear shoes? – Yes, closed in footwear must be worn. Students are permitted to wear running shoes (no spikes) during the race but must change back into normal school footwear post-race.
- What do students need to take to the oval? – Students must take their hat, water bottle and brain break (if running in the morning session) to the oval. In addition, they will need any medication including Epipens and asthma puffers etc.
- Can students qualify for Districts? – Yes. Students aged 10 - 12 years (Born 2014-2012) are also eligible to be selected in the Mango Hill Cross Country Team to compete at the Pine Rivers District Cross Country Trials which will be held in Term 2. If a student places in the top 5 for their race and they complete the course in a suitable time, they will be selected in the Mango Hill State School Cross Country Team. They will receive further information about this closer to the event date.
All family and friends are welcome to come and support students who are running. Spectators are encouraged to wear house colours to show support for Barton, Flynn and Walker houses. A reminder to parents and carers that plan on attending, please make sure you remain in the designated spectator area.
MHSS Junior Cross Country (Year P-2)
On Thursday 29th February (Term 1, Week 6) the Mango Hill State School Junior Cross Country will be run. Attached is the timetable for the day and a map of the course. Students will be instructed during PE lessons of their course and will also complete a walk through.
All students from Prep to Year 2 will be running their cross-country course and will have different lengths for their races (see below). The course is colour coded with markers so depending on their race distance, students follow different markers (this will also be on the map).
|
Year Level |
Track Distance |
|
Prep |
500m |
|
Year 1 |
750m |
|
Year 2 |
1000m |
At Mango Hill State School, in the early years of schooling, we believe sporting opportunities need to be available without the pressure of competition. We want children to have a go and enjoy the experience without feeling like they have to win. Participation and enjoyment are the primary focus in Prep to Year 2 classes. For this reason, we do not award place getters on sports day or cross country. We believe in positive reinforcement for effort and there will be plenty of time later for students with special talents to be acknowledged and awarded. From Year 3, students have the opportunity to be acknowledged for excellence in various sporting pursuits.
We strongly encourage all students to participate in the cross country; however, if your child cannot complete the course due to injury or illness can you please inform their class teacher. On the day students will assemble in class as normal at 8.15am. They will then come to the oval with their class. Some frequently asked questions have been answered below.
- What do students wear? – Hats must be worn to the oval but students are allowed to complete the course without their hats on (sunscreen is provided and all students must put their hat back on immediately following the race). Normal sports uniform shirt is to be worn (no house coloured shirts). Normal sports uniform shorts can be worn and students are permitted to wear running shorts/skins during the race.
- Do students have to wear shoes? – Yes, closed in footwear must be worn. Students are permitted to wear running shoes during the race but must change back into normal school footwear post-race.
- What do students need to take to the oval? – Students must take their hat, water bottle and brain break to the oval. In addition, they will need any medication including Epipens and asthma puffers etc.
All family and friends are welcome to come and support students who are running. Spectators are encouraged to wear house colours to show support for Barton, Flynn and Walker houses. A reminder to parents and carers that plan on attending, please make sure you remain in the designated spectator area.
Mr Hills & Mr Newell, Mrs Fuller and Mr Lisha
Physical Education Teachers
P&C Updates
