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Hello parents and welcome to Week 6 of Term 1. This term certainly feels like it is passing by very quickly! Reading Professional Development

Last Tuesday, Mrs Hand, Mr Wilmshurst, Mrs Hartmann, Mrs Sheppard, Mrs Steffen, Mrs S and I attended some professional development around the teaching of reading at the Sunshine Coast. All in attendance commented that this was one of the best presentations we have been to. Some interesting points that were presented to us are listed below –

The level of vocabulary a child has at 20 months of age is a strong predictor for reading development

The vocabulary used in books aimed at children 4 years of age is more complex than the vocabulary used on prime time television

By 1 year of age a child can recognise all of the different sounds

25% of students in Australia attend Prep without the necessary language skills

Across the world 25% of people cannot read

Regardless of socio-economic background 50% of children under the age of 5 are not read to on a daily basis

A lengthy part of the presentation also involved the need to determine “Why” a child is having difficulty learning to read and it is only then can a plan be put in place for “How” to cater for the child. I was very pleased to see that one of the programs recommended for this purpose is the York Assessment for Reading Comprehension. Our school purchased this program at the end of last year with a view to using it in our intervention classes (explained in the Head of Curriculum section of this newsletter). The program drills down into a child’s specific level of need and provides practical strategies for teachers to implement. The message that I took from this presentation was the absolute need for children to be practicing their reading either by way of parents reading to them or practicing on their own if they have the ability to. Furthermore, it is most important that parents talk with their children and answer the many questions they have as this will help to develop their oral language, which is fundamental for literacy development and a strong indicator for future academic success. Remember, you as your child’s parent will be the greatest teacher they ever have. Teachers work with students each day at school, however, without parents helping to establish regular routines and being a part of the “learning” journey of their child(ren) academic progress will not be as effective as it could be. Please do not hesitate to speak with your child’s teacher to get some ideas or strategies that you can use to support your child at home.

Dates to Remember

Friday 13 March – Student Council Free Dress Day

Wednesday 18 March P&C AGM 1.00pm

Friday 20 March – Year 5/6 Gala Day

Wednesday 25 March – Year 5 Gold Excursion $25

Friday 27 March – School Cross Country

Drop off and Pick up time for

students

Please do not drop your child off at school before 8:20am as there is no supervision before this time. Please ensure your child is collected from school by 3:15pm as there is no supervision after this time.

All playgrounds are out of

bounds before and after school

POLICE CONTACTS For emergencies – Triple Zero

For all other calls – Policelink 131444

For adopt-a-cop contact, email: hoggard.marshalj@police.qld.gov.au

P&C Annual General Meeting

This is a reminder to the school community that the P&C Annual General Meeting is to be held on 18th March at 1:00pm in the school Library. The meeting will be an opportunity to elect a President, Treasurer and Secretary for the 2020 school year. If you are interested in nominating for one of the positions on the Executive Committee please do not hesitate to contact me to discuss the roles and expectations. Russell Hotchin, Principal

Positive Behaviour for Learning At the time of writing, Term One is halfway through. To this point there have been over 10000 recorded interactions where a staff member has “caught” one of our students following the “Faithful Four”, verbally praised them for their specific action and awarded them a HOOT card. The number of HOOTS received by each student is tracked on a class chart and qualifies students for access to a menu of classroom rewards. Our current weekly focus is about “Walking on Hard Surfaces” throughout the school environment. Most of the hard surfaces walked on at our school are concrete or paving. Tripping, falling or causing someone else to fall in these areas could result in serious injury. Many of these areas are lined by metal or concrete poles and have wooden seats in the area. As a result these areas in our school are walking only

areas. Our Quad area is covered in a rubber softfall, but is an area that is designated for sitting and eating and is often crowded with students and parents. As a result our Quad area is a walking only area.

Our Multipurpose Court and Sports Hall have hard surfaces. They have been designed as open spaces to allow for games such as basketball and netball or other games conducted under staff supervision. Staff supervise play on the Multipurpose Court at break times. On these hard surfaces running is permitted under staff supervision. During this weekly focus lesson, class teachers will take their classes to various areas in the school, examine the features of that environment and make a judgement about whether it is a “Walking Only” area. Last week our focus was about thinking before you act which we have called “Reflective Practices” and emphasises decision making that will resolve rather than exacerbate issues. Greg Finn, Deputy Principal

From the Head of Curriculum Welcome to Week 6 of Term 1. The time is flying by already. In this week’s newsletter article I am going to give you an insight into the amazing things happening in your children’s lives on a Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. Across the week students engage in many activities that enrich their education. Each Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday there is a huge hive of activity in the classrooms and many learning areas across the school as children in their class groups complete literacy blocks at the same time as their peers. This was a new model that Maryborough West has brought in to support the student’s engagement with the English curriculum. Last year the school’s leadership team spent a lot of time creating a model to best fit the needs of the students to access the support or extension they require in English. On Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursdays literacy blocks occur from: 8:55-9:55am for Year 1/2 classes 10:00-11:00am for Year 3/4 classes 11:35am-12:35pm for Year 5/6 classes

During this time students are supported by the SEP teachers, the STL&N and our many wonderful teacher aides across 3 different levels of support. Students who are on track at achieving at or above year level standard remain with their classroom teacher during this time and are supported by a teacher aide. Students who require some support, work with our STL&N and a teacher aide in the FLIGS (Focussed Literacy Intervention Group) room and students who require significant support work in the TLC with the SEP teachers and teacher aides. Already we have seen the enthusiasm from students to be ready, organised and on time to their group to engage in their learning. Prep students are also engaging early in a literacy block style program on a Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday from 10:00-11:00am. They are supported by their classroom teacher, full

time teacher aide and the Head of Special Education. This term Prep are engaging in the Oral Language-Early Years (OLEY) building their knowledge of narratives, story elements, vocabulary and early reading practices.

Mrs S

Prep News In the last 2 weeks we have been learning about using the Hi-5 when we have a problem with friends. We must -

Talk friendly

Talk firmly

Ignore

Walk away

Report to a teacher In Health we have been learning about water safety. We are learning how to be safe at the beach and the pool.

In Maths we have been learning how to make patterns. We are working to make sure we can complete an ABAB pattern. Have a go at home. You might use lego to make a red-yellow-red-yellow pattern.

You might use forks and spoons to make a fork-spoon-fork-spoon pattern. In English we are learning how to get ready for presenting a Book Talk and talk about the characters and what we liked about a story. Prep Teachers

Year 1/2 News Welcome to the half-way mark in the term. In 1/2 we have all settled in well and are busy learning new skills and mastering old ones. The air-conditioning continues to help us cool down after our lunch breaks and especially helps us to enjoy our afternoon learning sessions. Reading Groups have been a great success as the students move about the classes to learn with other students at a similar reading level. One of our goals for this term is self-responsibility and independence. An important part of this is getting unpacked and organised for the day ahead. Children have a morning routine well established in their classroom. You can help your child by saying goodbye to them at the bottom of the stairs or the classroom door thus enabling them to be self-responsible in getting set up for the day and enjoy a sense of achievement when they have succeeded. Thank you for your support. The school day starts at 8.45am and it is important classroom teachers are available to be with students from that time onwards. If you need to speak to your child’s teacher, please see them before this time or after school. Teachers are also available by appointment. Have a great week! Year 1/2 Teachers

3/4 News What a busy start to the year! We have now finished our HASS units and are ready to move into our Science units. Year 3 will look at Living and Non-Living and how animals can be grouped; while Year 4 will explore Lifecycles and Endangered Animals. They are very much looking forward to this learning. This week we will have visitors come from the Office of Fair Trading to present “Advertising: How does it work?” This will be very interesting for the students and will be a point of reflection when we get into our Advertising unit later in the year. Just a reminder to remember hats and drink bottles each day. Year 3/4 Teachers

Instrumental Music News Concert Band news

Mrs Young will be away this Friday 6 March, so no Band or lessons on this day. Back to normal timetable on Friday 13 March.

Book Club News Book Club was sent home last Friday 28 February and is due back by 9:00am Wednesday 4 March. Thank you for your support.

Happygrams

PME Issac Genrich 3/4G Reuben

Ruby Doyle Cindi Staples

Jack Lee Callum Jocumsen

Destiny Marshall Zarliah Parsons

PE Sadie Sheppard 3/4H Khloe Allen

Clarence Vanderwolf

Rubi-Lyn Allen

Zyanna Shannon Nathan Page

Mia Sears 3/4W Hannah Askin

1/2B Jett Newland Tariq McConnell

1/2L Harper Taylor Ella McPhail

Areannah

Annabel Murtagh 4/5B Jacob Butler

Storm Beauchamp Angus Hollands

Camden Broquesa Amelia Pollard

Charlie Noble Tahlia Selby

1/2M Lachlan Ensor Mackenzie Wilson

Autumn Perry 5/6B Jackson O’Driscoll

Lara Kemble Aaliyah Kellaway

1/2S Charley Neaves Lylah Wehmeyer

Keiran Hastings Ryan Edwards

3/4B Emilee Frey 5/6Br Olivia Marshall

Kailey Barber Trent Morgan

Jai Page Georgia White

Eboni Johnson Liam Jensen

5/6TJ Harley Davis

Lexis McArthur

Rachael Wallace

Regan Farrell

P&C News

Tuckshop – Snack Shack After a year long trial in 2019, we have reviewed tuckshop and due to the lack of help to support Bec and Leigh, and the financial viability, we have closed tuckshop permanently. We would like to thank those who supported The Snack Shack, and Bec and Leigh for their hard work and dedication.

School Banking and Uniform Shop Please be advised that THURSDAY is now banking and uniform

shop days. This will commence this week on Thursday 5 March.

Community News