This week marks a new achievement for Mareeba SS with our Year 3 & 5 students participating in online NAPLAN for the first time. NAPLAN is a point-in-time assessment that allows parents to see how their child is progressing in literacy and numeracy against the national standard, and compared with their peers throughout Australia. As a result of moving to a technology-based test, NAPLAN will run over the next 2 weeks with students timetabled to complete tests intermittently. Good luck to our students participating in NAPLAN. For more information, click here to check out my Sizzling Spotlight on NAPLAN, found on the Principal's Blog.
Last week I had the pleasure of attending the FNQ Principal's Business meeting with my fellow Principal colleagues from across the region. This was the first time we were able to be together since early 2020 due to COVID and to hear the key messages face to face. This meeting, there was a big focus on 'What is your Why' and 'What is your students Why', providing Principals with the opportunity to reflect on what we do and how we can best support our entire school community, ensuring our children have a life of choice, not chance. Upon reflection with our Leadership team this week, there is no doubt that at Mareeba SS we strive to ensure we provide as many opportunities as possible to see every child succeeding, opening the door of choice.
But it wasn't all work with no play, this past fortnight saw our Year 4 students head out on an excursion to Rainforestation while the Year 1s enjoyed a visit from 'Zoo to You'. From all accounts the excursions were lots of fun with boomerang throwing and Army duck tours and all of our students demonstrated respect and responsibility. The crocodile was yet again the major hit! Congratulations also to our MSS student council for hosting our Free Dress Day on Friday for Tourette's - it was wonderful to see a sea of RED and GREEN!
Over the past 2 weeks we have also held our annual Prep Information Evening, which was a HUGE success. Today we will also hold our Prep Observation Morning. Next Wednesday we will host our Prep Open Morning and welcome our 2022 Prep children to experience Prep at MSS. These opportunities give our newest learners the chance to meet our staff, visit the 'big school' and begin to get familiar with our routines. If you have time, I encourage each of you to take the time to visit our school Facebook page to watch our latest Prep video – 'A Day in the Life of a Prep Student'.
I'd like to take the opportunity to finish this week's newsletter congratulating both Mrs Vanessa Doyle (Year 4D) and Mrs Karen May (Prep M & of course Mr May in 6M) on the welcomed news that they are both expecting their first child. We wish our expectant parents the very best for their newest adventure – parenthood.