Term 4 Week 8 Friday 27 November 2020 FROM THE PRINCIPAL'S DESK It was really exciting to welcome our families and parents back into school grounds earlier this week. For a school community who builds its’ reputation on strong partnerships and connection, the past 8 months has certainly presented challenges. Although we are still a fair way off removing all restrictions, I would like to thank you for your support and patience through these unprecedented times. The amazing messages of support and gratitude sent on your behalf have definitely provided the Merrimac staff a source of inspiration to continue providing the highest level of care and guidance through a difficult year.

Student Placements 2020 To help the school navigate class placements and staffing, we would kindly ask any families who are not returning to Merrimac State School in 2021 to notify our office by returning the attached slip or e-mailing admin@merrimacss.eq.edu.au

End of Year Events Staff are extremely busy working behind the scenes on various events ensuring our students are provided with as many annual end of year experiences as possible. Last week our Music team persevered through restrictions and presented an event showcasing all areas of our Music department. This event was my first official Merrimac performance and also doubled as the very first attempt for Merrimac State School to live stream. I’d like to thank all staff who were involved in this production for allowing our students to shine. Over the past six weeks, many staff have been involved in Prep Orientation, Prep experiences and generally welcoming our new families for 2021. Again under challenging restrictions, I’d like to thank the team of staff and volunteers who supported our families and new students through this process. Today our senior school are heading off to Merrimac State High School to participate in our 2020 swimming carnival. It was also great to see our parent spectator restrictions removed so that the carnival can be implemented as per normal. Finally, our Year 6 graduation team are busy making adjustments so that our upcoming ceremony accommodates for a restricted audience. It was really pleasing to see that our decision to hold off locking in plans for graduation, has allowed us to include our parents for this experience.

Andrew Schumacher – Principal

KATSURAGI SISTER SCHOOL This year we were disappointed that the planned visit by our Japanese Sister School, Katsuragi Elementary School, had to be cancelled due to Covid-19. Our schools have found other ways to celebrate and promote the friendships between the two communities during this time. Recently many of our classes have written and exchanged pen pal letters with the Katsuragi students. Last week some of our Year 6 students conducted an online meeting with a selection of Year 6 students from Katsuragi. The Merrimac students introduced themselves and shared information about themselves in Japanese and the sister school students introduced themselves in English. Mr Schumacher and Mr Okada were also able to introduce themselves during the Teams meeting as Principals of their respective schools. Another online meeting between the two schools will take place next week.

MLTAQ QLD ON-LINE SPEECH COMPETITION 2020 With over 2000 entries this year throughout Queensland, receiving a First place/Elite Award in grade 4 category is an amazing achievement! Congratulations to Amelia S! Very proud. Congratulations also to the following participants for their amazing efforts in the competition this year: Zara W, Ruby H, Matthew R, Kate W, Kassandra M, Jasmine A, Georgia-Lee G, Ezekiel W, Danielle S, Carlos T and Annabelle K.

Sensei Marshall & Sensei Mason

Merrimac State School Newsletter

MUSIC NEWS Congratulations to all of our music students for a wonderful performance at our live stream, Magic of Music event last week. It was lovely to see you enjoying your music and wonderful for you to have an opportunity to show us what you have been learning this year. To access the recording please click on the link that was sent for the live stream and type, ‘magic of music’, in the search bar that is under the Merrimac Heading. Junior and Senior Choir rehearsals have finished for the year. All band rehearsals and lessons have finished for the year. If you have not yet returned your instrument please do so as soon as possible. String students will have their last lesson and rehearsal this week (week 8). Mrs Losada will collect school instruments and music at this time. Thank you, students and parents, for your commitment to our music program. We hope to see you making music again next year. SCHOOL UNIFORMS If you have spare uniforms at home we would appreciate them at the office for use as spares, thanks. STUDENTS OF THE WEEK Congratulations to the following Students of the Week: Asher O P1, Tyler H P1, Abi B P2, Avesta B P2, Jaxson E P3, Diamond S P3, Harry W P4, Angus M P4, Richelle N 12M, Corey L 12M, Flynn C 1A, Amy W 1A, Isabella M 1B, Tyler C 1B, Anna Y 1C, Maya M 1C, Julena E 1D, Lex B 1D, Jayce G 2A, Miroslav Y 2A, Ruby R 2B, Jayden G 2B, Grace C 2C, Edmond C 2C, Hannah H 2D, Ronan M 2D, Jake G 34M, Jack S 3A, Anna G 3B, Miharu M 3C, Elara P 3D, Scarlet S 4A, Bree-Anna H 4B, Travis C 4C, Chloe N 4D, Rylee M 56M, Maddison H 5A, Leilah D 5B, Sage C 5C, Pierce v 5D, Tyreice E 6A, Emily P 6C, Tyler J 6D. STUDENTS OF THE MONTH - NOVEMBER Congratulations to the following Students of the Month: Ciera W P1, Kat H P2, Zara M P3, Mylarnia E P4, Isabella D 12M, Jordan Q 1B, Ava S 1C, Emma T 1D, Zara W 2A, Haluku S 2B, Isla O 2C, Kaisey D 2D, Brock H 34M, Jai C 3A, Aiden H 3B, Thomas B 3C, Ethan H 3D, Tier C 4A, Coco B 4B, Izaac D 4C, Dusty A 4D, Aaron K 56M, Ryan V 5A, Logan T 5B, Lucy J 5C, Riley P 5D, Riley D 6A, Solitaire F 6C, Max B 6D. BOOKSHOP/UNIFORM SHOP HOURS Due to COVID-19 restrictions online orders only via Flexischools. To place your order, go to flexischools.com.au or download the app.

Due to the easing of COVID-19 restrictions, bookpack collection will now be directly from the bookshop Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 8am-10am up until Wednesday 9 December (last school day for 2020) As we aren't able to try uniforms on, a uniform sizing guide is on the back of the booklist and also available on the school's website. If you are unable to collect your order, please contact Nic by email at nmart158@eq.edu.au to make alternative arrangements. The bookshop will be open in the week prior to school starting in 2021 on 20th , 21st and 22nd January 2021

from 8.00am until 12.30pm UPCOMING EVENTS Date Event Wed 2 Dec Final Prep Experience Day Tue 8 Dec Report Cards emailed Tue 8 Dec Year 6 Graduation – ticketed event Tue 8 Dec Year 6 only disco Wed 9 Dec Year 6 to Wet n Wild Wed 9 Dec Final school day for 2020 Wed 27 Jan First school day for 2021 MERRIMAC YMCA OSHC YMCA is the provider for Outside School Hours Care at Merrimac SS. YMCA is a child safe organisation that prides itself on high quality relationships with the community, Families and children. Permanent placements can be completed via my family lounge through the link: http://www.ymcachildcare.com.au/services/outside-school-hours-care.html . For any enquiries please email us at amm@ymcabrisbane.org or call us on 0438 367 390.

YMCA Merrimac OSHC is pleased to announce that the Summer Holiday Vacation Care Program is available for bookings via the My Family Lounge App. Please contact us on amm@ymcabrisbane.org to obtain a program activity overview, as well as enrolment information if you are new to our service.