Term 1 Week 4 2025
- Principal's News by Ange Padgett
- Team Mango We All Belong!
- Prep News by Mieke Munko
- Year 1 News by Evan Barrett
- Year 2 News by Jessica Burnett
- Year 3 News by Kris Olsen
- Year 4 News by Barbara Cornford
- Year 5 News by Greg McCallum
- Year 6 News by Danielle Price
- Curriculum News
- Sporting News by The PE Department
- Community News
We’ve had the best possible start to Term 1. Thank you parents/carers for working in partnership with the school to assist us in our focus on the Four Cares (Care for Self, Care for Others, Care for Learning, Care for Environment). The school has many ways of celebrating and acknowledging students when they enact the Four Cares. Some of these include.
On Friday we celebrated our Year 6 student leaders. Congratulations to our Student Leaders.
We are really excited to work alongside our leaders to grow, learn and achieve together. Our student leaders will be attending the National Young Student Leaders’ Conference in Week 5. I know they’ll have a great day learning about leadership.
Thank you to all parents/carers who attended last week’s Welcome Afternoon. This week we will be holding the Welcome Afternoon for Year 1, Year 3 and Year 5 (including 5/6) classes. The first session commences at 3.30 – 4.00pm, the second starts at 4.00 – 4.30pm. These sessions are repeated so there’s only need to attend one session. These sessions will provide parents/carers with a ‘window’ into the classroom. You can purchase a sausage, both meat or vegetarian, as well as a drink on this afternoon.
NAPLAN
Our Year 3 and Year 5 students will sit NAPLAN assessments starting 12 March. The National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) is a literacy and numeracy assessment that students in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9 sit each year. It is the only national assessment all Australian students have the opportunity to undertake.
As students progress through their school years, it is important to check how well they are learning the essential skills of reading, writing and numeracy.
NAPLAN assesses the literacy and numeracy skills that students are learning through the school curriculum and allows parents/carers to see how their child is progressing against national proficiency standards.
NAPLAN is just one aspect of a school’s assessment and reporting process. It does not replace ongoing assessments made by teachers about student performance, but it can provide teachers with additional information about students’ educational progress.
NAPLAN also provides schools, education authorities and governments with information about how education programs are working and whether young Australians are achieving important educational outcomes in literacy and numeracy.
Although we don’t ‘teach to a test’, students are currently being exposed to the test conventions so they know how to use the online assessment tools to support them to do their best.
The school will be holding a NAPLAN Parent Information Session on Friday 21 February at 8.30am. I encourage you to attend if you would like to know more or have any questions.
Yarn and Eats
We’re thrilled to invite our families to join us for Yarn and Eats, an afternoon filled with community connection, culture and fun!
When: Thursday 6 March
⏰ Time: 3:00 – 4:00 PM
Where: The Piazza
Enjoy a delicious sausage sizzle and drink while participating in activities, games, and painting. This is a wonderful opportunity to connect, celebrate culture, and strengthen our school community.
Don’t forget to RSVP to polla2@eq.edu.au. We look forward to seeing you there!
Date claimers
for this week (refer to the term overview for exact dates, times and locations on our website)
- Year 4 to Year 6 students commence Water Safety Program
- Pine Rivers Swimming Trial
- Welcome Afternoon
- NAPLAN Parent Information Session
- National Young Student Leaders’ Conference
- Year 1 and 2 commence swimming
- Year 3 Art Incursion
Ange Padgett
Principal
apadg6@eq.edu.au
Care Class and Focus of the Week
The Care Class focus that will be delivered this Friday is Care for Others. We are going to learn about using the High 5 strategy and seeking help appropriately in the classroom and the playground. We will also be consolidating this focus next week in Week 5.
What is the ‘High 5’?
The ‘High 5’ is a conflict resolution tool that can be used by students to help them develop problem-solving strategies. It is a whole school approach that can assist resolving conflict in the classroom and in the playground.
When do we use the ‘High 5’?
It is important to work through when the High 5 is appropriate to use and when it’s not appropriate to use. Sometimes, another student is “being annoying” and walking away is the best option, to give yourself some space. Sometimes, a friend might tell you something and you’re worried about them, so you could speak with a grown up about how to help them. Sometimes things happen that are serious, and you need to get an adult straight away.
You may like to role play some scenarios at home to practise which is the best strategy for different situations using our High 5 options.
CASUAL CLEANERS
We are looking for more casual cleaners to join our dedicated team of cleaners in 2025. Shifts will be from 4.00 -7.00am or 8.00am and 2.00-6.00pm. You will require a Blue Card, and be willing to complete a criminal history check. This is a casual position, so the number of hours will vary from week to week.
If this interests you, please email Andrea Gleeson aglee39@eq.edu.au for more details.
As we get further into the term, has your child grown? You may be looking at your student's uniform and thinking it's time for the next size up. We have all sizes available. If you are needing uniform pieces it's a good idea to bring your student with you when purchasing to ensure you get the right size fit the first time. If you are unsure if a piece is too big or too small, we can talk with you in store about your needs, are you wanting your uniform to fit "just right" for now, or are you wanting something a little larger for them to grow into over the year? If our uniform doesn't quite meet your needs, we can discuss special orders for you, such as making a smaller or larger size or using elastic in the skorts. Special orders are paid for when placing the order, and take about 6-8 weeks to arrive.
The uniform shop is open:
Mon 8am-10:30am
Wed 1:30pm-4pm
Thu 1:30pm-4pm
Fri 8am-10:30am
We also have a retail store located at 41 Kirby Road, Aspley. They operate regular retail hours and can be reached on 3263-5566.
We offer online orders. Orders can be placed through our website any time at www.wearitto.com.au/schools/mango-hill-state-school
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Mango Hill State School - Schools - Wearitto Wearitto delivers high quality uniforms in a way that makes things easy for schools and parents. We create clothing for school, work and play. |
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.
If you need to leave a message on our phone service, please leave your name and number so we can call you back. We are unable to see the number you call from, so can only return calls where a phone number has been left.
Have a great term!
Zoe
Uniform Shop Convenor
Mathematics – Number focus
This term we are learning to connect number names to numerals and collections of objects. We’re counting forwards and backwards and making sure we count accurately, or with one-to-one correspondence, when counting the number of objects in a collection. Prep learners might do this by picking up and moving each item as they count or by pointing to objects as they count. You can help with this by counting during your everyday routines. This could include counting up and down the stairs, counting out plates or cups at meal times or counting out items as you empty a trolley at the supermarket.
Noticing numbers in the environment (letterboxes, on the bus, registration plates) can also be helpful in teaching your child to connect number names to numerals.
Happy counting!
Attendance
Every day matters at school, especially in Prep. This is because the learning in Prep lays the foundations for learning thoughout schooling. Attending every day means your child does not miss content, experiences or opportunities to connect with teachers and friends. If your child is unwell, they should stay home and rest. Please notify the office if your child is away or respond to the SMS you will receive if they are absent without explanantion. If your child is well, please make sure they are at school so we can keep on learning! I will reach out to any families with children lower than expected attendance rates, this is to offer any supports that might be needed, and work together to achieve regular school attendance.
Mieke Munko
Deputy Principal-Prep
mmunk1@eq.edu.au
Data with our Year 1 Students
Has your Year 1 child been asking you more questions than normal lately? Maybe asking what your favourite fruit or ice cream flavour is?
If this has been occurring in your house, it is because Year 1 students have been learning about data. Students have been learning about how to ask questions to collect accurate data, how to collect data using tally marks and how to represent their data in graph form.
Swimming begins next week!
Year 1 swimming lessons begin in Week 5, and the students are buzzing with excitement.
To ensure a smooth experience, please:
- Complete the online permission formand make payment via QParents. (Paper copies are available at the school office if needed)
- Pack a swimming bag with:
- Swimmers (no light blue swimwear for safety reasons)
- Towel
- Flip-flop shoes
- Goggles (optional)
- Clearly label all belongings to avoid mix-ups
- Arrive on time to school to avoid missing the bus.
A copy of the swimming timetable is below for your reference.
I look forward to seeing many of you this afternoon at the welcome afternoon!
Evan Barrett
Deputy Principal –Year 1
ebmcf0@eq.edu.au
A Focus on Literacy
It has been an exciting and engaging week in our Year 2 classrooms as we dive into literacy learning! Students have been revisiting familiar sounds from Year 1 while also exploring new ones. They are working hard to read these sounds in new words and are practising their sentence writing with growing confidence.
You can support your child’s learning by asking them about the new sounds they have been discovering at school!
Year 2 Swimming Starts Soon!
The countdown is on! Year 2 swimming lessons begin in Week 5, and we’re all looking forward to seeing our students develop confidence and water safety skills.
To help your child have a smooth and enjoyable experience, please ensure:
✅ You have completed the online permission form and make payment via QParents. (Paper copies are available at the school office if needed.)
✅ Pack a swimming bag with:
- Swimmers
- Towel
- Flip-flop shoes
- Goggles (optional)
✅ Clearly label all belongings to avoid mix-ups.
A copy of the swimming timetable is below for your reference.
Reminder: No Ball Games in the Piazza
To help keep our shared spaces safe and orderly, we kindly remind families that ball games are not permitted in the piazza before or after school. If you are waiting in this area with your child, please encourage them to remain seated and wait calmly with you. Thank you for your cooperation in keeping this space enjoyable for everyone.
Attendance Matters!
Developing strong attendance habits early is key to your child’s success in Year 2. While we understand that absences due to illness or appointments may sometimes be unavoidable, please remember to notify the school if your child will be away:
Email: studentabsence@mangohillss.eq.edu.au
Phone: (07) 3482 8166
Thank you for your ongoing support. We hope you have a fantastic week!
Jessica Burnett
Deputy Principal- Year 2
jburn289@eq.edu.au
Entertaining through narratives
Over the past few weeks, our talented Year 3 students have embraced their inner authors, crafting captivating and imaginative narratives. To guide them in their writing journey, we’ve been focusing on a clear and exciting story structure: beginning, problem, problem explosion, and resolution.
In the classroom, students are using a variety of creative strategies to develop their ideas and organise their paragraphs with confidence. This structure is something that can easily be practiced at home, and we encourage you to try it together! We’re sure you’ll be impressed by the incredible stories your young authors are creating.
Parent information sessions- NAPLAN
We warmly invite all families to attend our upcoming NAPLAN information sessions over the next two Fridays. These sessions will provide valuable insights into the NAPLAN process and how you can support your child.
Join us in the Wandani Hall at 8:30 AM on Friday, 21st and 28th February. For those unable to attend in person, the session will also be available online via Teams. Simply follow the link below to join virtually.
We hope to see you there.
Deputy Principal
English Unit of Work
Here is another Year 4 Class’ (4B’s) Learning Wall. The photograph below, captures all of the components the students are being taught to include in their film review in preparation for presenting their speech to an audience at the end of the unit. This photograph also highlights the focus on excellence, 4 Stars and as you can see in the photograph, each element of the film review has components which are identified clearly so students know what is required of a 4 star introduction/summary/opinion.
Maths Unit of Work
The following photographs are a follow up from last week’s information about our Maths unit of symmetry and lines of rotation.
In this unit students identify line and rotational symmetry in plane shapes and images. They create and describe a symmetrical pattern including a pattern with line and rotational symmetry. They investigate and describe line and rotational symmetry in a complex pattern.
These photos are of students experimenting and testing hypothesis about line and rotational symmetry as they create complex patterns with concrete materials
Water Safety
Please note that students will not be able to attend this important life saving lesson without payments and permission forms completed. Payment plans can be entered into.
Please note that students in 4H will be returning to school at 3.00pm. It important to note this in relation to pick up arrangements.
Barbara Cornford
Deputy Principal –Year 4
bcorn3@eq.edu.au
Water Safety Reminder
Please remember to check QParents and your emails for information on the Water Safety Program for Year 5 Students.
Consent and payments via QParents.
Educational Achievement
Maths
In Maths students have continued their work on describing transformations of shapes, identifying symmetry and using grid coordinates.
There are three main types of transformations of shapes our Year 5 students focus on reflection, rotation and translation.
NAPLAN
- We would appreciate your assistance in checking that your child has the latest version downloaded and that it is working correctly.
- We will also be participating in a National Practice Test on Wednesday 5 March. This is an excellent opportunity to fine tune any technical and logistical needs, and to ensure the students are comfortable and familiar with the online platform.
- We will be running a Parent Information Session on Friday 21 February in the Wandani Centre.
- This session will also be available through teams if you follow the link below:
- There will be an additional parent information session held on Friday 28 February in the Wandani Centre.
Greg McCallum
Deputy Principal- Year 5
gmcca24@eq.edu.au
Year 6 Italian Learning
It has been fabulous to see our Year 6 students hit the ground running in their Italian lessons this year! They are exploring language and cultural practices related to the concept of characterisation. Our students having been exploring specific traits that make characters of Commedia dell’Arte (Italian Comedy Theatre) unique. I cannot wait to see them further explore this during their upcoming incursion this term!
Morning Meetings in Year 6
Across our school, each of our 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.
Danielle Price
Deputy Principal- Year 6
dxobr0@eq.edu.au
What’s happening in Maths
The Australian Curriculum for Mathematics organises content under 6 interrelated strands:
Year 3 and 5
Getting Your Child’s Device Ready for NAPLAN
At Mango Hill State School, we use Company Portal to access and manage apps.
Through Company Portal, download the NAP lockdown browser. Check that the NAP lockdown browser is updated and working correctly. If your child is not set up with Company Portal and you need assistance in setting up your child’s device, please book in to see Mark Laurie, located next to the HUB.
It is within this browser that students can practice the conventions of the test. At school, teachers have been working with students to prepare them for the conventions of the test.
If you have any concerns about your child’s participation in NAPLAN, please make contact with your child’s class teacher or contact our HOD Marissa Krosman mkros4@eq.edu.au.
Important Dates
NAPLAN Parent information sessions as follows.
- Friday 21February at 8:30am in the Wandani
- Friday 28 February at 8:30am in the Wandani
- NAPLAN practice for Years 3 & 5
- Wednesday 5 March
- NAPLAN testing window 12 - 24 March refer below for the scheduled NAPLAN timetable for our school.
Below is the scheduled timetable for NAPLAN
Have a fantastic week
Rachael Beard & Marissa Krosman - HODs
Physical Education News
Pine Rivers Interschool Sport - PRIS (Year 5-6)
Pine Rivers Interschool Sport is a competition organised by the Pine Rivers Interschool Sport Committee with Mango Hill State School again entering teams in 2025. The aim of this activity is to give all students in Year 5 and 6 the opportunity to participate in an Interschool-based sports competition. We want to try and encourage as many students as possible to participate in this opportunity.
If students chose not to participate, they will stay at Mango Hill State School and complete classwork with a Year 5-6 teacher.
The 6 planned Interschool Sports dates for 2025 are as follows.
- Term 2 Week 2 Friday 2 May
Week 5 Friday 23 May
Week 8 Friday 13 June
Back Up date: Week 10 Friday 27 June
- Term 3 Week 1 Friday 18 July
Week 3 Friday 1 August
Week 6 Friday 22 August
Back Up Date: Week 10 Friday 19 September
Sports
In 2025, Pine Rivers Interschool Sport will have different sports in Terms 2 and 3, these consist of the following sporting competitions, with students nominating a preference for which sport they would like to attend. They can attend the same sport or a different sport.
Term 2;
- Netball
- Soccer
- League Tag (Boys)
- Basketball (Girls)
- Cricket
Term 3;
- Netball
- Soccer
- League Tag (Girls)
- Basketball (Boys)
- Rugby League (Tackle - full contact.)
*Please note with Rugby League being tackle – full contact, this is a high-risk activity. Please only select if your son/daughter has the prior game knowledge and skills to participate. A mouthguard and football boots will be required.
This year Mango Hill State School is going paperless for both consent and nominations.
Consent forms via Qparent are due Week 5, Friday 28 February 2025.
Sports nomination preferences via Microsoft Forms are due by Week 5, Friday 28 February 2025.
Invoices will be forwarded after this date to those students who have returned their consent form. A payment of $36.00 is due by Week 7, Friday 14 March 2025. This covers all competition costs. There will be no partial refunds if 1 or more sessions are missed.
Students will not be nominated for Interschool Sport and will not attend Interschool Sport, if payments and/or forms have NOT been returned by the due dates.
We acknowledge this is a very quick turnaround for parents and students. If there are any issues with making the $36 payment by the due date, please direct parents to contact MHSS administration member Kerry Muncey (kmunc8@eq.edu.au) and we may be able to arrange a payment plan.
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 2025, 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 Friday 2nd break (Girls) and Friday 1st break (Boys) on the MHSS Oval. There will also be an afterschool trial at 3.00pm-4.00pm on Tuesday 25 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.
Costs
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 Cross Country (Prep - Year 6)
All students from Prep to Year 6 will be competing in the 2025 MHSS Cross Country Race. This is completed in the morning 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 as follows.
- Prep - Year 2: Friday Week 9 – 28 March
- Years 3 - 6: Monday Week 10 – 31 March
Sporting Lunch Clubs (Years 4-6)
At MHSS we provide opportunities for students to participate in lunch time clubs, which includes clubs directly related to sporting teams. The following clubs are offered in Term 1 with all students in Years 4-6 able to attend.
Mr Hills, Mr Newell, Mr Lisha and Miss Wilson
Physical Education Teachers
