At Mareeba SS we strive to build the capability of, and enable and empower students as leaders. We recognise that all students are, and have the capacity to be leaders with students encouraged to use their personal qualities to take on various roles to maximise their potential. Whilst we recognise that leadership roles are not defined by or limited to badge holder positions, we do recognise and celebrate our formal school leaders. Last week I was truly impressed by the calibre of students who nominated for student leader positions with particular praise for those students who presented their speeches to peers. This is certainly not an easy task and students did this with confidence. In 2022, I look forward to working closely with our student leaders:
- School Captains - Mitchell Gale & Kahlia Sellers
- School Vice Captains - Zebedee Knighton & Aimee Fink
- Indigenous Leaders - Cussmero Rainbow & Zion Pitt
- Indigenous Ambassadors - Jack Wenberg & Ayla Wigg
- Granite Sports Captains - Luke Keal & Jordynn Jackson
- Barron Sports Captains - Cooper O'Brien & Hailey Jaszczyszyn
- Mitchell Sports Captains - Zahlita Tokarahi & Trysta Peckham
- Auslan Captain - Alice Gillman
- Instrumental Music Captain - Niah Abdalla-Caamano
Last week saw the conclusion of our Learn to Swim program. Well done to all of the students who regularly participated in swimming lessons. A big thank you to Mr Dan Samanes and Mr Remy Fry for coordinating the swimming lessons and their work in preparing for our Years 4-6 Swimming Fun Day scheduled for next Friday 3rd December. Thank you also to the staff who this fortnight began coordinating the Creative Generations team for 2022. With Mrs Tyler Bartlett saying farewell at the end of 2021, Ms Shannon Hurst (Berg) has taken over the joint coordinator role in 2022, with Mrs Wendy Tilse.
This time every year we farewell and welcome new staff to our school. Whilst formal staff farewells will happen in week 10, I would like to take this opportunity to thank those staff leaving us this year for their dedication and commitment in supporting our students learning and success, and wish them every achievement in their future endeavours. This year we say farewell to Mrs Chantal Lovey, Ms Rachel Roberts, Ms Mishae Fleming, Ms Emma Sandilant, Mr James Bestmann, Ms Moy Carra and Mrs Tyler Bartlett. Farewell also to Mrs Carmel Arnol, Mrs Jessie Samanes and Ms Carmel McFarlane who will begin maternity leave awaiting the arrival of their little bundles of joy. With farewells come welcomes and next year we would like to welcome to our team Ms Wendy Moller, Mr Sam Brown, Mr Jesse Winspear, Mrs Caitlin Bale, Mr Ethan Mann, Ms Hayley Hurlimann, Mr Dylan Rhodes and Ms Nicole Ghensi. With this, I would like to congratulate Ms Shannon Hurst and Mrs Roslyn Bolton who successfully secured permanency with Education Queensland. Congratulations also to Ms Wendy Harris-Gallichan our Guidance Officer who was the successful applicant for the permanent GO role at Mareeba SS. This is fantastic news for Wendy and great consistency for our school. I have also been advised that Mrs Mandy Whybird has been extended in her current role as Lead Principal until the end of Semester 1, 2022. As a result, I too have been extended as Acting Principal and Ms Brooke Carmody as Acting Deputy Principal for this period of time. I am incredibly thankful for this opportunity and look forward to continuing our work next year.
As we draw close to the end of term and school year, we have a number of significant events coming up. These begin with our 2021 Step Up Day on Wednesday 1st December. This event will give students the opportunity to meet their new class teacher and class mates in their 2022 classroom, providing the chance to calm any concerns or fears and ask any questions they may have in preparation for their next school year. Students will bring home their 'Step Up Day' packs on this day containing important information about their teacher, classroom location, booklist and start of year events. Our 95% Attendance 'Wet' Party is scheduled for Tuesday 7th December and our Prep-Year 3 Award Ceremonies are scheduled for week 9 and 10. In week 10 we will recognise our students' academic, sporting and cultural achievements during our Years 4-6 Senior Awards Ceremony and celebrate the end of a chapter for our Year 6's with the Year 6 Graduation, both scheduled for Thursday 9th December. A reminder that Semester 2 student progress report cards will be emailed out on Wednesday 8th December. Please ensure we have your most current email address on file and keep up to date with our latest information via our school website and Facebook page.
- Hannah Simpson, Principal