Term 1 Week 7 2022
- Principal's News by Tracy Egan
- Team Mango We All Belong!
- Prep News by Melinda White
- Year 1 News by Kylie Vaughan
- Year 2 News by Ellaine Warner
- Year 3 News by Michelle Alcorn
- Year 4 News by Ben Mills
- Year 5 and Year 6 News by Martin Winney
- Curriculum News by Suzette Holm and Danielle O'Brien
- Sporting News by The PE Department
- News from our Partners
- Community News
Parent Teacher Interviews
Parent Teacher Interviews will be held over a four week window including the last two weeks of Term 1 and the first two weeks of Term 2. Different teachers will choose different times depending on when they are ready to share assessment results and other information.
Please book interview times via https://eq.sobs.com.au/pt3/parent.php?schoolid=70371
Bookings are currently open and will be up until Friday 18 March at 5pm.
The focus of these interviews is to share how your child is progressing in the key areas of English and Maths and discuss their learning goals.
If you have any trouble accessing the site, or you don't have an email account, please contact Jasmine Benfer in the office for assistance jbenf10@eq.edu.au
If you are having any trouble with the times offered, please email the class teacher to arrange an alternate time.
Please see below for further instructions.
https://eq.sobs.com.au/docs/sobs-pt3-parents.pdf
P & C AGM and March Meeting
Our first P & C meeting for the year will be held at 6.30pm on Monday 14 March in the studio (near piazza). We would love for you to come along and contribute!
Stay & Play afternoons
We hope you are able to join us for our Stay & Play afternoons over the next weeks as follows
Prep – Thursday 10 March from 2.30-3.15pm in the Prep area
Year 1 & 2 – Monday 14 March from 2.30-3.15pm in the Junior covered area
Year 3 & 4– Thursday 17 March from 2.45-3.30pm in the piazza
Year 5 & 6– Tuesday 15 March from 2.45-3.30pm in the piazza
The SOLE Café will be open so please grab a coffee and join us!
National Day of Action Against Bullying & Violence
Next Friday 18 March we will celebrate The National Day of Action against Bullying and Violence. Students will be encouraged to wear something orange to draw attention to this day. More details next week.
Have a wonderful week
Tracy Egan
Principal
tegan4@eq.edu.au
Speech-Language Pathology and Teacher Collaboration by Vicki Doyle
Effective communication is essential for not only academic success but also mental health, social connectedness and emotional wellbeing. We have a wonderfully diverse range of communicators at Mango Hill State School. One of the ways in which we support our students with additional needs in communication (e.g. speech, language, literacy, social language or fluency) is through collaboration. I am the Speech-Language Pathologist that visits Mango Hill State School and some examples of how I collaborate with Teachers include:
- planning individual student curriculum or communication goals with the Teacher and/or Inclusive Learning Teacher
- reviewing student work samples with Teachers to develop personalised goals as well as inform suitable adjustments or interventions
- creating and sharing resources to help individual students access the curriculum or to communicate more effectively
- joining year level Professional Learning Community meetings or Case Management Meetings as a Knowledgeable Other
- working alongside Inclusive Learning Teachers to select appropriate language programs or to develop literacy supports for targeted groups of students
- meeting with Teachers to discuss personalised adjustments, such as:
- modifications to the presentation of learning materials or how students can respond (e.g. verbally, through writing, drawing a picture or using technology etc.)
- modifying assessment to enable students to express their understanding in a way that is more accessible to them
- modelling how to adjust speaking rate and language style when delivering lessons and;
- modifying the learning environment (e.g. increasing the amount of visuals or demonstrations, preferential seating or the use of a Sound Field Systems to amplify the Teacher’s voice).
Collaboration occurs in many different ways and is a major part of the Speech-Language Pathology role at Mango Hill State School. It is through these purposeful partnerships and effective teamwork that we help our students with communication barriers to succeed.
Team Mango – We all belong!
Save the date! On Friday 18 March, our school will take part in the National Day of Action Against Bullying. All students are encouraged to wear orange on the day and will participate in activities in Care Class that focus on taking a stand against bullying. Our Prep to Year 2 students will also attend a parade performance put together by our student council, in Gigum Hall.
Focus of the Week
The Care Class focus delivered on Friday, is ‘Moving around the school’. Below are the routines and expectations that will be discussed during Care Class and will also be revised in the classrooms throughout week 7.
When I care for others:
- I walk on concrete areas
- When moving around the school I walk quietly and responsibly in two lines or with our buddies /small group (keeping to the left).
When I care for the school environment:
- I use the pathways
- I pick up any rubbish that I walk past and place it in the bin.
When I care for self:
- I keep my hands by my side
- I keep my eyes facing forward (so I don't bump into others or objects)
- I walking on the concrete areas
- I wear my hat
- I walk down the stairs (keeping to the left).
Mango Musicians
A big welcome to our continuing families and new families who have children involved in our Instrumental Music Program here at Mango Hill SS.
Who are the teachers?
Mr Malcolm James has been at Mango Hill SS for several years now and is our wonderful Senior Concert Band Director and Brass and Woodwind teacher. Mr James brings a wealth of knowledge and fun to his lessons and rehearsals and works at the school each Wednesday.
Mrs Emma Nicolopoulos is a new addition to the Mango Hill SS team this year and has taken on the role of Music Coordinator as well as teaching Brass, Woodwind and Percussion students. Ms Nicolopoulos (or Ms Nic. as the students like to call her) will also be working at the school each Wednesday teaching, and Thursday mornings for all things music administration. She is passionate about music and loves seeing the joy on students faces when they overcome each challenge that playing a musical instrument presents.
This week we have secured Mr Georgeos Stylianou, strings teacher, through regional office to assist with strings lessons and rehersals. Please continue to check your emails (and junk folders) for updates regarding the strings program from Mrs Emma Nicolopoulos each Thursday.
Looking ahead:
Term 2 – ANZAC Assembly 22 April (Senior Concert Band)
Term 2 – Fanfare 25 May (Senior Concert Band)
Term 2 – MHSS Concert 9 June (All ensembles)
Emma Nicolopoulos
Prep News!
What a different start to school we’ve had, first with the delayed start and last week with all the weather. We are sure our Prep students will take this all in their stride and be quick to return to routine, with our help and support. Remember, this is all they know. They take their cues from us. If we remain upbeat and positive and we model resilience, then they become what they see. At school, we use language like, “it’s okay to be sad, but then we work hard to turn that around.” Or, “it’s okay to be cranky that we missed out on that activity because it was raining. But now we are going to take some deep breaths and think about what we can do instead that will be fun.”
You can help to support your child at home by trying some of the following ideas.
*Minimising the amount of media coverage in your home. In our home, we don’t watch the news. It’s not that my children don’t know what’s going on, but by limiting the visual news, we can control the way we explain the Big Things to our little ones.
*Keeping a sense of calm and explaining things in a way that very small children understand. There is a fine line between just enough information, so that our young children don’t worry about the unknown and knowing every little detail, in too much detail.
*Getting outdoors and into nature - so important after so many days inside due to the rain.
*Facilitating play. Mix the toys up, put out something new that your child can explore. It doesn’t have to be purchased - pots and pans and plastic containers make wonderful exploration toys too!
*Having conversations with your child. Let them take the lead. Connect with them and chat, rather than just giving instructions (which is sometimes what happens in busy households!). At the moment in our house, we are reading a chapter of Charlotte’s Web together each night. It’s time together that is “quarantined” and my children know it. It’s built into our routine. So we read and chat before bedtime.
If you have been impacted by the rain and flooding, please touch base with your child’s teacher. We’re here to support you in any way we can.
Tomorrow afternoon, March 10, mark your calendars for our Stay and Play afternoon. It’s a chance for us to connect with you and for you to connect with other families. We’d really love to see you! SOLE Café will be open for afternoon tea and coffee, so make sure you visit them before Stay and Play – every coffee you buy supports our school.
Take care, take a breath; we’ve got this Team Prep!
Have a lovely week
Melinda White
Deputy Principal - Prep
mwhit37@eq.edu.au
Exploring Shapes
The Year 1s have been exploring the difference between two-dimensional and three-dimensional shapes in Maths. Two-dimensional shapes are those that have the dimensions of length and width. Some common two-dimensional shapes are squares, rectangles, circles and triangles.
Three-dimensional shapes on the other hand are those that have the dimensions of height, width and depth. Some common three-dimensional shapes are cones, spheres, cubes and rectangular prisms.
Look at this great work from our Year 1s where they have sorted the shapes into two-dimensional and three-dimensional groups.
The children have also been using geometrical language to describe shapes. Two-dimensional shapes can be described using the number/types of sides and corners. Three-dimensional shapes can be described using faces, edges and corners.
Ways you can help at home…
- Play Eye Spy and spot shapes in the environment… ‘I spy with my little eye an object that is shaped like a cylinder.’
- Make shapes with playdough.
- Cut shapes out from junk mail and magazines. Sort them into groups and name them.
- Play ‘What shape am I?’ ‘I have 6 square shaped faces. I have 12 edges and 8 corners. I look like a dice. What shape am I?’
- Build with different shape blocks and name the shapes you build with.
Year 1 Swimming
Unfortunately our classes didn’t get to start swimming as planned last week.
Our plan now is to reduce the number of lessons to 6 rather than 7 for all classes (except 1D). This will allow us to fit in all the learning required in the final four weeks of term. Families of all Year 1 classes (except 1D) will receive a $7 credit to your account for the missed lesson.
A copy of the new timetable of 6 lessons is attached here.
Have a lovely week
Kylie Vaughan
Deputy Principal- Year 1
kvaug3@eq.edu.au
Learning in Year 2
This week, Year 2 students have eagerly bounced back into their learning. I have been so thrilled to see our students’ commitment to reading. It is so exciting to see the love of reading in action and growing. Our teachers recently joined with the teachers from Prep and Year 1 for a deep dive into reading instruction, to reflect on and share practices. Our recounts are really taking shape and students are learning that their choice of events in their recount is also important for creating the mood. In Math our students are finishing off their focus on number patterns. Students will have lots of opportunities to transfer their learning into the next unit. I have included a few photos below from Year 2 this week.
Before and After School Routines
The Back to School plan ended on 4 March. You will have received an update from your child’s class teacher about what this means for our before and after school routines. Thank you for your support with this. This week, students have been reading Social Stories about the before and after school routines so that all of our students can be confident that they are following the routines and staying safe.
Date Claimer for Stay and Play in Year 1/2
We are looking forward to seeing Year 2 parents, and hopefully meeting some new faces, at our Stay and Play afternoon on Monday 14 March at 2:30 pm to 3:15 pm. Details are in this newsletter and will also be in your child’s class newsletter for this week. This is a wonderful opportunity to get to know your child’s class teacher in a social setting. Please note parents must supervise their own children. We understand that not all families will be able to attend. Luckily, we have a sector parade next Friday, Junior Cross Country and a special parade on the last day of term all coming up over the next four weeks presenting further opportunities for you to visit with us!
Ellaine Warner
Deputy Principal- Year 2
ewarn23@eq.edu.au
The Power of Reading
In a busy day it can be really hard to find quality time to read with your child or for your child to read on their own. However we know reading is such an essential part of our children’s development that it is really important that we find the time. Taking 5 to read, even if it is in bed before they go to sleep, in the car on the way to or from school is an opportunity for our students to continue to develop and practise their literacy skills. In the moment environmental reading opportunities are also incredibly valuable. Asking your child to read to you the shopping list, signs and labels whilst you are shopping, when you are travelling or even waiting in a line at the checkout will provide timely opportunities to build their knowledge of the world and literacy skills.
For our Year 3’s reading as part of a daily routine of ‘taking a quiet moment’ is incredibly important in continuing to develop their literacy.
Reflecting our Learning and Celebrating our Growth
Well done super star Year 3’s! How wonderful it was this week to visit classrooms and see students getting their learning visible on the wall. It was such a celebration to see so many of our little friends reflect on their learning this week and bump up the writing and number work to 4 stars!! Well Team Mango Year 3.
Have a great week
Michelle Alcorn
Deputy Principal- Year 3
malco14@eq.edu.au
Year 4 News
It’s been a busy week in Year 4 as we make up for the lost time at school last week. As always, our students and teachers are working hard to reach their learning goals for the current units of work. Students have been applying their knowledge of new concepts learned and using their classroom learning walls as a tool to reinforce their understanding of concepts they still find challenging.
Using learning walls and ‘Bump-it-up’ walls in our classrooms has been a focus at Mango Hill State School for some time now. These walls represent student learning and act as a tool to support students to improve their work samples, complete a task or check their understanding. In Year 4 this term, our teachers have been supporting students to use the wall independently. It is wonderful to observe students using the wall to enhance and reinforce their knowledge and understanding, on their own. Amazing care for learning Year 4!
This week our care focus is on being ‘Ready to Learn’. Every student at Mango Hill State School has a Ready to Learn plan which they develop with the support of their teacher. This plan helps them to identify when they may be feeling upset or angry, preventing them from being in the learning zone. The Ready to Learn plan includes strategies elected by the students to help them get back to the learning zone when they begin to feel these emotions. It is always fantastic to see Year 4 students using their strategies independently as they show care for self.
Next week, Year 3 and 4 families have their ‘stay and play’ afternoon. This will be a great opportunity for parents to come and connect with each other and their child’s teacher. There will be activities for students and parents to join in with as well. We will be based in the piazza and can’t wait to catch-up with you all there!
Have a super week
Ben Mills
Deputy Principal – Year 3
bxmil3@eq.edu.au
Care for Learning in Year 5 and 6
Unfortunately last week did not pan out as we had hoped with another disruption to learning. However on the days students were at school, over the last week, I still had the opportunity to observe some great teaching and learning. I had the privilege of visiting 5P this week as they collaborated with their buddy and tackled some problems focussing on the four star elements of the scale. It was great to see how engaged they were! I also had the opportunity to visit 5G as they developed deep thinking and writing skills during Writers’ Café. Students were given a visual prompt and were asked to collaboratively plan a story inspired by the prompt. It was so entertaining to read their different ideas. To celebrate writing in Year 5 I hosted the first Writers’ Wednesday lunch for the year. Each week I ask for two writers from each Year 5 class to have lunch with me. They bring their latest writing sample and we celebrate the choices they make and the progress they are showing. Great work Year 5 and 6!
Have a good week
Martin Winney
Deputy Principal – Year 5 & 6
mwinn7@eq.edu.au
Accelerated Reader (AR)
Well done to all of those students who have been busy borrowing, reading and quizzing. It is great to see so many eager borrowers every day. Don’t forget to read your AR book carefully before completing the quiz – all of the answers can be found within the books so be sure to check in the book for every question.
Congratulations to Avery, who has already read 2 million words this year! What an extraordinary start to the year and especially fitting since this occurred on International Women’s Day. What an extraordinary young role model she is! We are super proud of her efforts and have added another photo of her to our special Millionaire Readers wall!
Care for the Hub
Don’t forget that a library bag is a great way to care for the environment, especially our precious books. The library bag can be one especially purchased from our uniform shop or any fabric or plastic bag. Please take extra care to ensure that books aren’t damaged by leaking water bottles.
Unfortunately we have already lost some books this year because of water damage from water bottles and lunchboxes. Our policy for lost or damaged books is to ask families to replace these books with books of their choosing. For AR books, we ask that you replace the lost or damaged book with the same book as these titles are often difficult for us to replace.
The Hub is open every morning after 8.15am and every afternoon until 3pm. We look forward to seeing everyone soon.
Learning in STEM and Science
Students have been exploring living, non-living and once living things during their STEM and Science lessons this week. Students in Year 3 have welcomed the arrival of the Queensland Museum exhibit and have been excited to explore the observable features of living and non-living things.
It has also been wonderful to hear and see students in Year 4 exploring life cycles by investigating seed germination.
Year 5 students have been exploring the properties of solids, liquids and gases through investigations.
Students in Year 6 have been asking questions, exploring and investigating microorganisms and the effect of environmental changes on living things. They will be exploring mouldy cheese this week!
We have also been lucky enough to welcome the arrival of the chicken exhibits this week. Students in Prep-2 will spend time in their STEM lessons visiting the exhibit to learn more about living and non-living things. Our preps will have the opportunity to look at the needs of our chickens and design enclosures based on what they need to survive.
It sure has been an amazing week in STEM and Science!
This year, between 10 and 20 May, our school will be doing NAPLAN Online
NAPLAN assesses literacy and numeracy skills that students are already learning at school. On its own, NAPLAN is not a test that can be studied for and students are not expected to do so. 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.
Read the NAPLAN Online information brochure for parents and carers. To see the format of the online tests, visit the public demonstration site.
We will also be participating in a National Practice Test on Thursday 24 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.
Actual student data will be used for the dress rehearsal and the May tests. Before testing, please read the information relating to privacy, which can be found on the NAPLAN Online Queensland website’s parent information page. You can also download the Australian Curriculum Assessment and Reporting Authority’s (ACARA) factsheet on how student personal data is collected and protected and the ACARA privacy notice.
As our school runs a bring your own device (BYOx) program, you can assist by ensuring the NAPLAN Online locked-down browser is downloaded prior to the tests. Information about BYO devices is also available on ACARA’s website.
We will keep you up-to-date in the lead-up to May, but if there’s anything you need in the meantime, please don’t hesitate to contact me at dxobr0@eq.edu.au or Ben Mills at bxmil3@eq.edu.au.
Have a fantastic week
Suzette Holm and Danielle O'Brien
shol0@eq.edu.au
MHSS Cross Country
A reminder the dates for our Cross Country events are:
- Year Prep-2: Wednesday Week 10 - 30 March
- Year 3-6: Friday Week 9 - 25 March – NOTE DATE CHANGE
Below is a copy of our course maps and community notice for our Junior and Senior Cross Country Events. Students have different lengths for their races depending on their Year Group (Junior Prep-Year 2 event) or Age Group (Senior Year 3-6 event). All students will be instructed during their upcoming PE lessons of their course and will also complete a walk through. The course is colour coded with markers so depending on their race distance, students follow different markers which again is detailed in the attached map. An email with full event details will be sent to all parents later this week.
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 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 may also obtain trial information from the Pine Rivers District School Sport Website https://prdss1012yr.teamapp.com/?_webpage=v1 or Mr Nick Hills - nhill96@eq.edu.au
Interschool Sport (Year 5-6)
All Year 5 and 6 students will get the chance to participate in the Pine Rivers Interschool Sport, which was formally known as “Gala Days”. This will be structured slightly differently than Gala Days with students competing in Terms 2 and 3 only, with the competition running for 6 days (3 days each term). Students compete against teams from other schools for Interschool Sport. They will vote for which sport they would like to play and can train at school during our lunch clubs. The Interschool Sports for 2022 are;
- Netball
- League Tag Boys
- League Tag Girls
- Speed Soccer
- Outdoor Cricket
- AFL
- Ultimate Frisbee
- Dodgeball
AFLQ Schools Cup Competition
A reminder that our Boys and Girls AFLQ Schools Cup Training Squads will be training Tuesday 3.00pm-4.00pm on the MHSS Oval.
Pine Rivers District Sport Trials – Term 1 and 2
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 https://prdss1012yr.teamapp.com/?_webpage=v1 or Mr Nick Hills - nhill96@eq.edu.au (MHSS PE Teacher).
Costs
Some Pine Rivers District Trials that occur during the school day will incur a fee to cover the supervision costs of teachers running the trial. Trials which are run after school will be free of charge. All Metropolitan North Trials in 2022 are free of charge as well.
- Pine Rivers District Sports Trial (after school) Free
- Pine Rivers District Sports Trial (half day or full day) $10.00
- Metropolitan North Sports Trials Free
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
|
Event |
Date of Trial |
|
Pine Rivers District U/12 Swimming Trials – Boys and Girls – CANCELLED (noms direct to MN) |
16/02/22 |
|
Met North Regional U/12 Baseball Trials – Boys and Girls |
22/02/22 |
|
Met North Regional 10-12yr Swimming Trials – Boys and Girls |
23/02/22 |
|
Pine Rivers District U/12 AFL Trials – Boys |
2/03/22 |
|
Pine Rivers District U/12 Netball Trials – Boys and Girls |
9/03/22 |
|
Pine Rivers District U/11 Netball Trials – Boys and Girls |
11/03/22 |
|
Pine Rivers District U/12 AFL Trials – Girls |
15/03/22 |
|
Pine Rivers District U/12 Basketball Trials – Boys and Girls |
16/03/22 |
|
Met North Regional U/12 Golf Trials – Boys and Girls |
21/03/22 |
|
MHSS Internal u/12 Football Trials – Boys and Girls |
24/03/22 |
|
Pine Rivers District U/12 Touch Football Trials – Boys and Girls |
24/03/22 |
|
Met North Regional U/12 Squash Trials – Boys and Girls |
29/03/22 |
|
Pine Rivers District U/12 Hockey Trials – Boys and Girls |
31/03/22 |
|
Pine Rivers District U/11 & U/12 Rugby League Trials – Boys and Girls |
20/04/22 |
|
Pine Rivers District U/12 Football (Soccer) Trials – Boys and Girls |
26/04/22 |
|
Pine Rivers District U/12 Rugby Union Trials – Boys |
25/05/22 |
|
Pine Rivers District U/12 Tennis Trials – Boys and Girls |
25/05/22 |
* 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.
Have a great week.
Mr Hills & Mr Newell, Miss Richards and Miss HodgesPhysical Education Teachers
nhill96@eq.edu.au
tnewe20@eq.edu.au
P and C News
Come along and join the Mango Hill State School P&C.
If you are unavailable for meetings, you are able to still be a member and be updated via the minutes.
You can print out this form at home and bring it along to the next meeting on Monday 14 March at 6:30pm or drop it into the office to be passed on to the secretary.
Copies of the membership form can also be found in the office.
Helping Hands
