Principal Update 15-03-23

This past fortnight has been full of great events and learning for our students with our Year 4 cohort participating in their hands-on Science Session and our Year 5 students going on an excursion to the Herberton Historical village.  And it wasn't only our students learning, this past fortnight our teachers have completed their Term 2 planning day which saw some great professional collaboration resulting in engaging new units of work for our students' next term.  Be sure to check out the Term 2 Curriculum at Home flyers to learn more.

Mareeba SS prides itself for having high student and staff expectations across every facet of the school, focussing on 3 core expectations; I Respect Learning, I Respect Safety, I Respect Me & You.  Along with our 9 focus expectations, this helps to ensure our student behavior reinforces and promotes a safe and supportive learning environment for all students. Our expectations are reinforced each morning before school starts and during parades held each Monday and Friday morning at 9am. Our Head of Department Behaviour Mrs Cherene Trimble leads the way in this field which includes positively promoting our student PayWay and Respect & Collect shop where students have the opportunity to purchase prizes with their earned tokens.

Today marks the start of NAPLAN with our Year 3 & 5 writing tests. Students in these 2-year levels will complete their remaining reading, spelling, punctuation & grammar and numeracy tests on-line over the next 9 days (students who are absent will have the opportunity to sit missed tests).  During these 9 days our Year 1-3 Library computer lab and Year 4-6 computer lab will be closed at both breaks.  For students in Years 4-6, iPads will be on offer at first break in the HUB as an alternate.  For more information on NAPLAN check out my Sizzling Spotlights found on our website https://mareebass.eq.edu.au/SiteCollectionDocuments/Principal%27s%20Blog%20-%20NAPLAN.pdf .   There are lots of Sizzling Spotlights on the website about other programs at MSS

Each year Mareeba SS counts on parent voluntary contributions to assist us to be able to supplement engaging activities in our classrooms. Parent voluntary contributions pay for, amongst other things, Art and Science materials that support fun and engaging activities for your children. These contributions provide each classroom with a budget for those extra resources which teachers may not otherwise have access to. Voluntary contributions are able to be paid in instalments or in one full payment either through the school office or by direct debit. This year the contributions are set as follows: - $50 per student or $120 per family (3 or more students). Payments can be done via BPoint, cash and/or eftpos, please call the office for more information. We really appreciate your support in making these contributions and would like to thank those families who have already made their contribution for this year.

Don't forget tonight is our last P&C meeting at 4:30pm in the staffroom before we kick off our 2023 AGM at 5pm.  All families are welcome to attend with pizza and drinks on offer at the AGM. Even if you can't attend, be sure to complete your P&C membership form and get it back to the office before Wednesday 3pm.   

The last 2 and a half weeks of Term 1 will be jammed pack – don't forget to mark these in your calendar:  ​