Term 1 Week 3 2021

Connection and Clarity to Empower and Extend

Our 2021 Explicit Improvement Agenda will focus on connection and clarity to empower and extend.

What does this mean?

• We want to build connection and positive relationships with and between staff, students and their families. We know when students feel connected to their school and have a strong sense of wellbeing, they perform at their best. We are further exploring how we can build these connections.
• We want to provide clarity for students so they clearly know what aspects of the Australian Curriculum they are learning, provide feedback so they know how they are going and what they can do to improve. Further embedding our Lesson Design framework will engage students in deeper learning.
• Every student at MHSS should be given the opportunity to extend their learning and be empowered to be their best!

It is wonderful to see our little prep students (pictured below) already developing connection and clarity at school! We look forward to developing our capability to drive these initiatives forward to help student succeed to their potential!

Productive Parent Partnerships

Thanks to the parents who attended the Parent Information Sessions on Monday. We are so fortunate to have strong partnerships with our parent community and look forward to working collaboratively with you.

Our AGM was also held Monday night. Congratulations to our new P & C Executive

• Renee Walls President
• Amy Swalwell Vice President
• Luciana Bortot Treasurer
• Karen Puckeridge Secretary

I would like to acknowledge and thank Leah Hartridge for her incredible work as Treasurer in 2020. We look forward to working with the new P & C Executive in 2021.

2021 Costs for Parents

At Monday evening’s P & C Meeting, the committee endorsed the 2021 costs for parents. Please find below a break down of all anticipated costs for this year.

Book and Stationery packs

The delay in delivery of book packs from Kookaburra has been incredibly disappointing and frustrating for everyone. I sincerely apologise and can assure you we will not be using this company again.  We received an update today clarifying that there are approximately 25 book packs still outstanding which will be delivered very soon.

I would also like to assure families that the A4 white and coloured paper and tissues from Kookaburra have now been delivered to school.

Have a wonderful week

Tracy Egan

Principal
tegan4@eq.edu.au 

 Care Class

Care Class, which is a critical part of how we support students and care for their learning at Mango Hill State School, begins this Friday.

The Focus of the Week this Friday is ‘Care Class Expectations and Team Building’, this will be introduced in classes and continued throughout the following week. Students will be participating in cooperative team activities, that will allow them to show manners, take turns and play fairly. 

Instrumental Music

Parent Information Evening

On Wednesday 17^th February we will hold a Parent Information Evening for students who have joined the instrumental program in 2021. This session will be held in the Hall, from 5.30 to 6.00 pm.  Parents and carers will hear information about the instrumental program at Mango Hill SS and have the opportunity to meet our three instrumental music teachers:  Mr James, Mr Hamlin and Mrs Bogdan. 

Instrumental Lessons

All instrumental lessons have now started and timetables have been sent by the instrumental teachers to both parents and class teachers. These are also displayed on the door to the Music studio. If you have any queries, please contact your child’s instrumental music teacher.

Strings: Mrs Alena Bogdan axbog1@eq.edu.au

Percussion: Mr Bruce Hamlin bhaml3@eq.edu.au

Brass and Woodwind: Mr Malcolm James mjame38@eq.edu.au

Report Every Absence

Absence line: 3482 8166

We are well into learning in our first year of school!  Thank you to our parents and carers who joined us on Monday to hear about your child’s Prep journey at Mango Hill SS.  We look forward to partnering with you!

In English, our students are working hard on learning how to be a four star drawer.  We encourage our budding writers and illustrators to have detail in their drawings, to draw people with bodies and heads and arms and legs and to draw people in locations that are recognisable.  Before we learn to read and write, we need to understand that print, whether it be written or visual, always contains a message.  Our students are learning to communicate their thoughts about events, via their drawings.  It’s incredibly exciting to see how they have already improved since they started at school, two short weeks ago!

In Maths, our primary focus right now is understanding number.  We need to learn to count objects and that once we have counted a small collection of objects, we can trust this count and don’t have to keep recounting time and time again!  This can be a tricky concept for some students; knowing that the amount of objects in front of them stays the same, even when you move them around.  You can help to support this learning at home, by asking your child to count small collections of objects.  Ask your child to touch each object and move each object as they count – this helps them to keep track of where they’ve started, so they don’t count the same thing twice!

We’re getting much better at saying goodbye to our parents and carers each morning.  Thank you to our parents and carers for maintaining consistency at drop off, with “one kiss, one hug, say goodbye and reassure your child you’ll be back in the afternoon.”  When we are consistent, our little ones learn that we follow through and they can trust the routine.  When home and school work together, this is when our students are at their best!

Have a great week!

Melinda White

Deputy Principal - Prep
mwhit37@eq.edu.au

Showing what we know!

Our Year 1 and 2 students this week have been busy working with their teachers to identify their celebrations in writing and the next steps. Teachers have been working with students to self-reflect on their writing and ‘bump up’ their work together. It has been fantastic to see student learning becoming visible on the walls.

In Year 1, students are learning to write a retell of some of their favourite fairy tales. This week they have been working on the events, beginning, middle and end of the fairy tale. As we getter better at our retells we will be striving for 4 Stars by adding details by describing who, when, where and how.

Have a lovely week
Michelle Alcorn

Deputy Principal – Year 1 & 2

malco14@eq.edu.au

Year 3 and 4 News

What an amazing week it has been in Year 3 and 4! Students have now settled into their new classroom routines and are digging deep into their learning. Our Guided Reading groups have gotten off to a flying start. Students are working closely with their teachers as they develop skills in comprehending challenging texts and making predictions about texts that they are about to engage in. We have also seen our students begin Guided Maths lessons this week. In Guided Maths, all students receive targeted intervention according to their ‘next steps’ on their Maths scale. It has been wonderful seeing students engage in the different learning opportunities provided in these guided sessions, as well as applying their skills during independent rotations.

Students have also enjoyed their time connecting with peers in other classes and year levels during their playtime. At Mango Hill State School we have a range of lunch time clubs on offer and activities to participate it. Lunchtime clubs are a great way for students to make new friends and pursue their interests. From sports, to coding, to performing arts, gardening or simply hanging out with friends, there is always something for our students to enjoy. Have a look at all of those smiling faces!

Have a great week
Ben Mills

Deputy Principal – Year 3 & 4

bxmil3@eq.edu.au

Care for Learning in Year 5 and 6

It has been another great week for Year 5 and 6 as we really commence our focus on learning. In the week proceeding, classes spent valuable time completing pre-assessments to really focus in on the next curriculum step for our students. Last week and this week we have met in our Professional Learning Communities (PLCs) to share our collective expertise to respond to that next step. Since then I have had the pleasure of observing high impact, engaging, pedagogy in classrooms. The aim of which is to get students to really demonstrate their thinking about the learning. I have observed students participate in Thinking Routines like See, Think, Wonder that has allowed them to connect with their peers and discuss their wonderings. I have observed students connect with one another through peer tutoring and feedback using our scales. These strategies have certainly resulted in engaged learners and will achieve great results. This week we have also kept up the pace on AR reading – I encourage all students, that if they do not know their level, to ask their teacher to look it up for them. I was also really impressed with the way our teachers and students got started with our Guided Reading and Guided Maths program. This is a great way for our teachers to differentiate their teaching of reading and problem solving to empower and extend all learners.

Have a great week
Martin Winney

Deputy Principal – Year 5 & 6

Inclusive Learning Team

The Inclusive Learning Team collaborates with students and staff across the school to ensure students with diverse learning requirements are being supported to succeed. The team consists of the following dedicated teachers:  Cass Stewart, Kara Rufford, Elissa Chambers, Peta Fishburn, Kerrie-Ann Wood, Angela Ray, Nicole Batterbee, Ann Stewart, Suzie McEvoy, and Kara Gough.  Our teachers are supported by our qualified and highly skilled teacher aides and our Teacher Aide: Educational Interpreter.  The team includes our Guidance Officer, Emma Crawshaw, our Speech Language Pathologist (Vicki Doyle) and our Student Welfare Officer (Jane Courtney).  I am proud to lead this team as the Deputy Principal (Inclusion).

Inclusion Scan and Assess We are very excited to welcome the Inclusion Scan and Assess team from Regional Office this week.  The team will be speaking with a small number of students while they are here.  If your child has been nominated to speak with the team, you will have received an email asking for your consent.

Take Care this week

Ellaine Warner

Deputy Principal - ILT
ewarn23@eq.edu.au

Rapid Recall in Mathematics  

This year our students have been having fun learning how to participate in our Rapid Recall program. This occurs three times a week for 10 minutes. Students work through questions quickly to consolidate critical content in Mathematics and use many ways to represent their ideas, from using a whiteboard, drawing, singing, and reciting. Teachers use this opportunity to check for understanding and to identify how they can further support their students. It is quick and fun, and our students have really begun to look forward to their Rapid Recall lessons each week. Please see below some photos from 5P who invited me in this week to watch

Thank you 
Jess Rivett

Head of Department 
jxqui5@eq.edu.au

Pine Rivers District Sport Trials – Term 1

Below is a list of upcoming Pine Rivers District trials.  Most trials are limited to students turning 11 or 12 years of age and who are considered at a high level in the sport eg Div 1 or A Grade.  If you are interested in your child trialling for Pine Rivers District more information can be obtained from the Pine Rivers District School Sport Website www.pineriverssport.qld.edu.au  or Mr Nick Hills - nhill96@eq.edu.au (MHSS PE Teacher).

Please Note:

• Trial information and district forms are not available until 2 weeks prior to trial date.
• District forms must be returned by the due date for students to be nominated.
• Trial fees must be paid online by 3pm on the due date.

* Due to high student interest in attending the PRD Football trials, MHSS will be conducting internal trials to select the students who will attend the PRD trials.

Free After School Sporting Activity

Mango Hill SS has been successful in obtaining the Sporting Schools Funding Grant in 2021.  The Sporting Schools program is an opportunity for students to participate in free sporting sessions run by qualified sporting coaches.  It is open to all Mango Hill students from Prep-Year 6. 

2021 Term 1 Sporting Programs

Should you have any further questions regarding the new Sporting Schools program please contact Mango Hill P.E. teacher Mr Nick Hills (nhill96@eq.edu.au).

Pine Rivers District Basketball

On Monday Mango Hill State School had three students participate in the Pine Rivers District Basketball Trials.  Jack C, Ashton A and Ky G, pictured below, were up against some very stiff competition for spots in the Pine Rivers District Team.  We are proud to announce that all three of our students were successful in gaining selection.  They will now compete at the Metropolitan North Trials next month.  Congratulations boys, we wish you the best of luck!

Have a fantastic week 

Mr Hills & Mr Newell

Physical Education Teachers

nhil96@eq.edu.au
tnewe20@eq.edu.au

Mango Munchies is open Monday – Friday 7am – 2pm. Counter service starts at 8am. 

Please don't forget to get your Sushi Orders in for Friday.

Orders need to be placed via flexischools by 8.30 Thursday morning.

Flexischools

Could i please ask all parents and carers if you are experiencing problems with placing orders could you please contact us directly at the canteen.

The quickest way is to call us on 34828115 and mhsspccanteen@gmail.com

Please be advised if we are busy the email is not always checked till later in the day.

Have a Great Week

Canteen Girls

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