Term 3 week 9 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 are so close to the end of term and our students are doing a fabulous job. I'm fortunate to go on learning walk and talks each term in every classroom. It’s the favourite part of my day as I get to talk to students about their learning and engagement. Our students are making such great progress, especially in reading. They are so clever. I’m a little surprised by how quickly they have picked up the associated metalanguage. They are using terms like; digraph, trigraph, base words, morphemes, suffix, prefix, split digraph… Students are reporting that they love literacy lessons and we are so proud of their improvement in this area.Staffing
Babies are in the air at Mango Hill. At the end of this term we farewell Ms Stevie-Lee Vos, Ms Gin Balfe, Ms Sam Wray and Ms Tamara Wills, all of whom will be commencing maternity leave. We congratulate them and thank them for the work they have undertaken. We also farewell Ms Laura Maltaric who will be returning to her home town in Victoria. We will miss Ms Maltaric and thank her for her efforts whilst being part of Team Mango. Staffing behind these positions is almost finalised and will be communicated in the incoming weeks. We also welcome Ms Jo Bulger back to Mango. Ms Bulger has returned from a wonderful holiday. Ms Steph McEwan has been backfilling Ms Bulger and will continue her work at Mango in another year level. We also welcome Ms Megan Goodall, Ms Mel Edwards and Ms Junine Correlje of whom are returning from leave. We are very pleased to have them back as part of Team Mango.
Wakakirri
Our Wakakirri performed in the Wakakirri State Finals. Congratulations to our Wakakirri team, who have won a National Nomination. They were also awarded the Health/Wellbeing State Award. We are so proud of your commitment, talent and hard work, led by our fabulous dance teacher, Ms Glenda Kostaglou. Ms Kostaglou needs a well-earned rest. Thank you also to our Wakakirri parents for their ongoing support of the team. We appreciate all that you do.
RUOK Day
On Thursday, 11 September we’re supporting R U OK? to remind everyone to stay connected and make asking, ‘are you OK?’ a part of our everyday. That way if someone we know is struggling with something big or small they’ll know we care. When we genuinely ask, ‘are you OK?’ and are prepared to talk to them about how they’re feeling we can help someone who might be struggling, feel connected and supported.
You don’t need to be an expert to ask someone, ‘are you OK?’. Try and make time for regular chats about life’s ups and downs so you can build trust. That way when someone is struggling, they’ll know you care and will feel comfortable opening up to you. In care class we will be teaching the students when they might want to ask ‘are you OK?' and how to have that conversation.
The four steps to asking 'are you OK?’ are
- ASK
- LISTEN
- ENCOURAGE ACTION
- CHECK IN
There is a range of free information and resources available on www.ruok.org.au to help you and your family ask, ‘are you OK?’ and meaningfully connect with the people in your world. If you need immediate crisis or emotional support, you can contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Kids Help Line on 1800 551 800.
Students are required to wear their full school uniform however all teachers and staff are encouraged to wear yellow and ask each other ‘are you OK?’.
Supporting school transitions
This week we are excited to share our whole school approach to supporting transitions. This refers to the process of preparing all our students for the move into their new year levels in 2026. It may seem early to be thinking about this however we understand that there are varying levels of need within this process and for some students, this process can require extra time. While we are approaching the planning phase for transitions, it is important for us to maintain the routines of our current school year to avoid any unnecessary distraction or worry. If you have information you wish to be considered around class placement for 2026, remember to capture these in the class consideration form shared in last week's newsletter and below. If your child is identified for any additional support around transitions, you will be contacted by your Inclusive Learning Teacher or Deputy Principal.
Student Resource Scheme
The Student Resource Scheme (SRS) is a user-charging scheme operated by schools to provide access to individual students’ resources not funded by the government. Schools develop their SRS based on specific resources needed by their students and the programs they offer. The SRS fees and inclusions are endorsed annually by the school’s Parents and Citizens’ Association (P&C), and parents are provided with this information each year. Participation in the SRS is optional. Parents who opt out of the SRS are responsible for supplying the necessary resources for their child. The 2026 SRS proposal will be shared at the Term 4 P&C meeting on 13 October. We don’t envisage the fee will change greatly.
Term 4 Parent Overview
The Respect Program: Health Unit for Term 4
The Respect Program- What is being taught?
The Respect program is a teaching and learning resource developed by the Department of Education as part of the Queensland Government’s commitment to address domestic and family violence.
The Respect program takes a developmental approach to content and delivery. Over the years of schooling from Prep through to Year 12, students will be exposed to age-appropriate learning opportunities that help them build respectful relationships, understand consent and the reporting of sexual assault. In Term 4, we will begin the Respect program from Prep - Year 6.
By implementing the Respect program, schools will give students opportunities for social and emotional learning in self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationships, ethics, values, social norms, stereotypes, human rights, risk and responsible decision-making. A growing body of evidence shows that social and emotional learning of this nature leads to:
- improved social and emotional skills, self-concept, bonding to school and classroom behaviour
- less disruptive classroom behaviour, aggression, bullying and delinquent acts
- reduced emotional distress such as depression, stress or social withdrawal.
Prep to Year 2
Students develop the capacity to understand and self-regulate their emotions in ways that account for their feelings and the feelings of others. They also develop skills to initiate social interactions.
The content explores the people who are important to these young students and develops their capacity to initiate and maintain respectful relationships in different contexts, including at school, at home and in the classroom. Students explore their own sense of self and the factors that contribute to and influence their identities. They learn about emotions and how to enhance their interactions with others as they grow older, including seeking, giving and denying permission (consent).
Years 3 to 6
The Respect program's focus broadens to include the knowledge, understanding and skills required to support students' wellbeing and that of their family and friends. Personal and social skills take on an increasing importance as they look to family, peers and the community for role models. Students begin to explore personal and social factors that support and contribute to their identities, and assist in the management of emotional responses in a range of situations over time. Students develop knowledge, understanding and skills that help them build and maintain respectful relationships, including seeking, giving and denying permission (consent).
2026 Class Allocation - Parent Considerations
As we begin the complex process of class allocations for 2026, we warmly invite families to share information they would like us to consider when placing their child. We value your insights and understand that you may have perspectives that support your child’s learning, wellbeing, or social development. If you have considerations to share with us, please do so via the link or QR code below.
We ask that you please note while all information received will be reviewed carefully, we may not be able to accommodate all requests. Class placement in a school of our size involves a wide range of considerations, including academic balance, social and emotional needs, support provisions, and staffing.
Please submit any information that you wish us to consider fresh this year, as we do not carry over previous requests. This helps ensure that decisions are based on current and relevant context.
Please also note that specific teacher requests will not be considered.
Submission of parent considerations is optional but must be submitted by Friday 12th September 2025. Late submissions will not be considered. We thank you for your ongoing partnership and support.
https://forms.office.com/r/1GXi9uUkQZ
PACE Class Placements 2026
At Mango Hill State School, our PACE Program is designed to support students who demonstrate very high academic achievement across multiple learning areas. In PACE classrooms, students are taught the Australian Curriculum but may work at a faster pace, allowing students to engage in inquiry-based projects.
Each year, PACE class placements are carefully reviewed using a range of current student data sources. This ensures that placements reflect each child’s learning needs at that point in time. While there is one PACE class in each year level, places are limited, and decisions are made to ensure the best possible learning environment for all students across the school.
If you would like to discuss whether a PACE placement may be suitable for your child in 2026, we encourage you to reach out to your child’s class teacher or the Year Level Deputy Principal.
The images below provide an overview of the placement process for Prep and for Years 1–6.
Arts Fest
We are getting excited! Arts Fest is tomorrow. Please come along and join in the fun!
Arts Fest at Mango Hill is not just a celebration of creativity, it's a special opportunity to spend time with family and enjoy the vibrant spirit of our community. With performances, displays, and hands-on activities, there’s something for everyone to enjoy. Come along on 11 September and join in the fun as we celebrate the talents of our students and the joy of coming together through the arts!
Thanks to Ray White North Lakes for sponsoring this event. REmember to bring cash for Henna and Year 6 market stall.
Arts Fest Catalogue 2025
Arts Fest Raffle
Diversity Day Parade
Diversity Day Parade – Friday 17 October (Week 2, Term 4)
We are very excited to be preparing for our upcoming Diversity Day Parade! We would love for this special event to showcase the many cultures and traditions that make up our school community, and we would love to highlight the unique heritage of our families.
There are many ways cultures can be represented – from traditional dress, music and dance to stories, artwork or special customs. Every contribution, big or small, helps to make our celebration more meaningful and reflective of our community.
If you would like to share an idea or be involved in any way, please get in touch with Mrs Burnett at jburn289@eq.edu.au. Together, we can create a colourful and memorable celebration that represents the wonderful diversity of our school.
Date Claimers
Week 10
- Parent Teacher Interviews
- MHHSSC half day transition
- AFLQ Schools Cup
- Bike Education - Year 4 4K
- Year 4 Italian Incursion
- Interschool Sports - Year 5 and 6
Mango Hill State School Coffee Cups
Ange Padgett
Principal
apadg6@eq.edu.au
Focus of the Week
This week in Care Class we will learn about how to Care for Others by identifying ways to negotiate and resolve conflict respectfully.
What is a conflict?
A conflict is a disagreement or problem between people. All people experience conflicts from time to time.
We can use the following steps to resolve conflict respectfully.
- Try to calm down
- Talk about how you feel
- Find a win – win solution or ask for help
We are also learning how to check-in with our friends as part of RUOK Day. RUOK Day is an annual Australian day of action dedicated to inspiring people to start conversations with anyone who might be struggling with their mental health and well-being. The goal is to remind everyone that a conversation can change a life, and to encourage regular check-ins with friends, family, and colleagues through the simple act of asking, "R U OK?".
Reading at Mango
In Year 5, we are developing our word knowledge by exploring how suffixes change the meaning and function of words. We have been learning how adding -ible means that something can be done, creating an adjective such as flexible (able to bend and transform without breaking). We've also explored words that combine a prefix and suffix such as 'impossible' (not able to happen). We are actively retrieving our knowledge of past prefixes and suffixes to strengthen and broaden our word knowledge. We practice applying our spelling at word and sentence level and our students love to test themselves with dictation sentences focusing of a new morpheme each week.
Instrumental Music
We are now starting the recruitment process for the Instrumental Music Program in 2026. If your child is interested in being involved in the strings (violin, viola, cello, double bass) or band program (brass, woodwind or percussion instruments), please scan the relevant QR code on the flyer for more information and to fill out the online expression of interest form.
P&C News
We would like to thank everyone for their support at last week's Father's Day stall and hope all the dads, carers and special father figures enjoyed the gifts that the children carefully chose for them.
We'd also like to thank all the wonderful volunteers for the day, we couldn't have done it without you - Sue, Kerry, Sarah, Jen, Lisa, Alanna, Teresa, Linda, and our helpers supplied by Helping Hands - Miss Livvie, Jodie and Shelley. You were all fantastic and we're so grateful for your time. We have raised over $3400 profit.
And last, but certainly not least, thank you to our Vice President, Melissa, for all her efforts pulling the stall together; ordering items, organising school rosters in conjunction with the school, organising our volunteer roster, then packing and unpacking all the stock ready for the students to come and buy - all done in her spare time around having a full time job and being a busy mum. You're an asset to our team!
For anyone wishing to get involved with volunteering, there are opportunities in the Canteen. Jodi and the team would love to have you help out, even if it's just for an hour or so each week. Please get in touch at PandCPresidentMHSS@outlook.com
Helping Hands
Mango Hill State Secondary College
English – Retelling experiences
Last week our Prep learners enjoyed a teddy bear’s picnic to support our ‘speaking and listening’ focus in English. The children had a wonderful time with their cuddly friends! This experience is the basis of their next ‘re-tell’ where they will outline who was there, what happened and how they felt. We are so proud of how our learners have progressed in doing this, now including more detail and logically sequencing events. Here are some photos of Prep I and Prep F during their teddy bear’s picnic.
Arts Fest Excitement
This week we have been so excited about our Wandani Arts Fest. We visited the art gallery with our buddy classes and were amazed at the pieces on show. We enjoyed looking at art from Prep to Grade 6 and even from our Lady Gowrie Kindy friends! We look forward to seeing you on Thursday, you’re in for a treat!
Term 4 Swimming
We are now in our final planning stages for swimming. Please ensure permission and payment is received no later than Wednesday 17 September. Students not participating will join another Prep class while their class is at the pool. Students without permission and payment by Wednesday 17 September will not be able to attend swimming in Term 4. If you have any questions, please reach out to your class teacher.
Mieke Munko
Deputy Principal-Prep
mmunk1@eq.edu.au
Mathematical Problem Solving
‘You are having a party and inviting some friends. Each friend will get a party bag with 5 treats. How many treats do you need to buy so that each bag has the same amount?
1H have been solving practical problems using addition, equal sharing and equal grouping. Mr Pollock unpacked the above question for students and then set them to work, first in pairs and then independently. Students were quick to get to work and share their thinking. Clever work 1H!
High 5
In Year 1, students use the High 5 strategy in the playground to help solve problems or manage conflicts in a calm and respectful way. It involves five simple steps: ignore, talk friendly, walk away, talk firmly, and report. This helps children build confidence and independence in handling minor issues with their peers before asking an adult for help if needed. For any hands on incidents, we always recommend students seek out an adult for help immediately.
Have a wonderful week everyone!
Mrs Evan Barrett
Year 1 Deputy Principal
ebmcf0@eq.edu.au
Supporting regulation in Year 2
In Year 2, we are building our skills for recognising how our bodies and minds feel, and finding strategies that help us be “ready to learn.” Throughout the day, we take short “ready breaks” to reset our energy levels. These might be “energy up” breaks, where we get moving to boost our focus, or “energy down” breaks, where we take time to calm and settle.
Our Year 2 learners are becoming very confident at noticing when they need a ready break. This helps students return to learning tasks with focus, persistence and a positive mindset. We are very proud of the way Year 2 students are developing independence in managing their regulation and being active participants in their own learning.
How families can support at home
You can support your child’s regulation skills at home by encouraging them to notice how their body feels and suggesting a short break when needed. For example, if your child is feeling low in energy, they might benefit from a quick dance, a walk, or bouncing a ball. If they are feeling unsettled or “too busy,” a calming activity such as reading, drawing, or listening to quiet music can help. Using the same language of “energy up” and “energy down” at home reinforces the strategies they use at school and helps them to continue building independence.
Using the High5 strategy
We are also reminding our Year 2 learners to use their High 5 strategy when solving problems with others. We are reminding students that it is never okay to use their hands or physical actions when they are feeling frustrated or angry. Instead, we encourage them to work through the High 5 steps and, if the problem is still too big to manage, to seek help from a staff member. By practising these strategies, students are learning safe and respectful ways to manage conflict and build positive relationships with their peers.
Jessica Burnett
Deputy Principal- Year 2
jburn289@eq.edu.au
Arts Fest
We are so excited for our Arts Fest tomorrow afternoon! It will be a wonderful opportunity to celebrate and showcase the incredible artworks our students created earlier this year.
As part of our Year 3 Art unit, students explored Indigenous perspectives to inspire their own artistic pieces. Using a combination of natural materials and painting techniques, they created beautiful, textured artworks. We can’t wait to see these proudly displayed during the festival!
Consistent, Predictable Routines
Throughout the year, our students have been connecting the Four Cares with our Consistent, Predictable Routines across the school. From lining up respectfully as a way to care for others, to using school facilities responsibly to care for our environment, it’s been wonderful to see students engaging thoughtfully in these practices.
As part of our school-wide approach, students demonstrating these values are awarded golden tickets. These tickets contribute to both classroom and cohort reward systems, and also tie into our SOLE sticker chart. Students collecting stickers work toward becoming Care Champions and ultimately SOLE Ambassadors.
We’re proud to share that 11 Year 3 students have already earned their Care Champion badge — an outstanding achievement!
Deputy Principal
I’m sure that like me, you are amazed at how much of 2025 we have already experienced. I know that a lot has happened this year, but in a way it also seems surprising that we are almost at the end of term 3. I will soon have been at Mango Hill State School for 12 months. I am thoroughly enjoying being here. The school is a beautiful place to be and I am incredibly proud to be part of such a wonderful team.
In particular, I am impressed with our great Year 4 team. Every teacher has been working so hard to make this year a great year for your child. We appreciate your involvement in your child’s education and are grateful to everyone who has made a Parent/Teacher Interview. These interviews are a great way to keep in touch with how your child is going both socially and academically.
Additionally, here at Mango we continually have numerous ways to share in school community events throughout the year. We’ve just had the Book Week Parade and week we are about to have Arts Fest… this is an event I’m very much looking forward to participating in as I have heard about it all year. I encourage you to join with us on Thursday 11 September for Arts Fest.
BIKE EDUCATION
Next week 4K goes to Bike Education. This is the last session for the year. This has been a great excursion. Students have been exposed to and taught road rules in a safe environment. Even if your child doesn’t ride a bike or ride a bike out and about, this experience has been great exposure for them.
With Term 3 coming to a close at the end of next week, I would like to take this opportunity to thank parents and guardians for working with teachers to ensure positive outcomes for your children.
Educational Achievement
During Term 3 students have been designing and creating chariots which were powered by Sphero’s. Over the past week students have had the opportunity to race their chariots. While some were designed solely for performance others added a touch of flare. The students had a great time racing their chariots and seeing who would come out on top!
Student Wellbeing
Arriving on time, wearing a school uniform, having the appropriate resources and getting a good night sleep are all crucial elements in supporting positive wellbeing in children.
If you require assistance there are many trusted organisations that are specifically available to support children and young people's wellbeing and mental health and that can provide guidance to parents about how to support their child. I have included some links below.
Youth Beyond Blue External link
Department of Families, Seniors, Disability Services and Child Safety External link
CYMHS (Child Youth Mental Health Services) External link
Student Wellbeing Hub External link
Greg McCallum
Deputy Principal- Year 5
gmcca24@eq.edu.au
Online Safety
At school, we place great importance on kindness, respect, and positive relationships, and we hope to see these values carried over into students’ online interactions as well. We encourage the monitoring of children's social media use and messaging apps and have conversations at home about responsible and respectful online behaviour.
If your child is part of large group chats, it may be helpful to encourage them to leave these groups, as they can often become overwhelming or a place where negative interactions occur.
Thank you for your ongoing support in helping us keep our school community safe, respectful, and kind—both in person and online.
For helpful resources for parents regarding online safety, check out the eSafety commissioner website: https://www.esafety.gov.au/parents and further resources on https://www.thinkuknow.org.au/resources-tab/parents-and-carers.
High School transitions
On Tuesday next week, a large number of our students will be attending the Mango Hill State Secondary College half day transition day. Those not attending will be combined into a smaller number of classes for the first part of the day.
A reminder that if you’re yet to enrol your child into high school for 2026, that now is the time to get onto this. The sooner students are enrolled, the sooner that we can work with our local high schools to support a smooth transition.
Danielle Price
Deputy Principal- Year 6
dxobr0@eq.edu.au
Supporting Wellbeing During Assessment
As students take part in assessment, we encourage families to focus on wellbeing as much as learning. Assessments are simply one tool to show progress and understanding, but they are only one part of the bigger picture. You can support your child by encouraging plenty of rest, healthy routines, and positive reassurance. A calm, balanced approach helps children feel confident and ready to show what they know.
Our teachers are here to support, so we encourage you to check in about your child’s progress and next steps.
Calling all volunteers!
Thank you to our wonderful volunteers who helped out last week. If you have an hour to spare on Monday-Thursday, anytime between 8:30am-12:30pm, please drop in and help us cover some new books and student resources. We appreciate your support!
Have a fantastic week.
Physical Education News
SEQ Football Championships
3rd/4th in South East Queensland!!!
After winning the Pine Rivers District Interschool Sport, then the Met North Championships, our Year 5 Soccer team competed against the best teams from all over South East Qld. These regions included:
- Met North
- Sunshine Coast
- South Coast
- Met West
- Darling Downs
Results of the day:
Mango Hill State School (Met North) 2 – Camp Hill (Met East) 4
Mango Hill State School (Met North) 3 – Toowoomba Grammar 0 (Darling Downs)
Due to the travel time factored in for all the other regions, only the top team of each pool goes to the grand final. This means our boys finished as the best 3/4 teams of the entire South East Qld region, which is an amazing achievement. We know they will be committed to try and go one step further next year! Well done Team Mango!
Regards,
Mr Hills, Mr Newell, Mr Lisha & Miss Wilson
Physical Education Teachers
Mango Hill State School
