Principal Update 24-05-23

As we move into the second half of term 2 the great opportunities for our students are certainly ramping up.  A big thank you to everyone for supporting our students and staff to participate in these events including attending the Great Wheelbarrow Race parade, the Year 6 MSHS transition day, Forensic Science workshops, Indigenous Leaders for the Future camp at TEEC, Prep Information Evening, Prep Observation Morning and Prep Open Morning as well as the Global Gifted Green program at TEEC. This week has also been a big week for sport.  Congratulations to Sienna O'Brien (and past student Cooper O'Brien) who represented the Peninsular team in the recent Golf Queensland School Sport State Championship Golf team as well as Rhys Malfitana who was selected for the boys Peninsula soccer team. 

Our high expectations and consistency in messaging from staff have remained focused these past few weeks on student movement around the school.

1. All students out of classes during learning time without a staff member should have a movement pass – be it a pause card, their buddy class form or toilet tag.  This helps staff to quickly see where students should be and support them to do this quickly and quietly.
2. Walking around our school as a class with a clear message that this should be a quiet and in an orderly line up (one or two lines is acceptable).  Students should not be jumping up to hit the beams of the buildings or wandering through the gardens. 
3. Students lining up, ready for learning after lunches.  This will look different depending on veranda size and age group of students but students should return to class quickly and wait quietly until their teacher arrives.
   
   
   Our next focus is on our student bookwork. Our schoolwide book work expectation posters are displayed in all classrooms with the Deputy Principal and I checking student bookwork over the next few weeks.
   
   
   
   This past fortnight we have had some staffing changes as Mrs Vanessa Doyle has taken the acting Pedagogy Coach role for the remainder of Term 2 with Ms Hayley Hurlimann (Monday) and Mrs Gemma Chatfield (Tuesday-Friday) teaching 1D. We have some welcomed additions in Mr Bradley Worland who will join our school as DRT once paperwork is finalised and Mrs Stefanie Prizmic who joined our school teaching 1/2B on a Friday.  Some sad staffing news, our ESO Ms Chantel Mohle is finishing up in her role this Friday and we wish Chantel all the best in her new role with the Mareeba Shire Council. Ms Carmel McFarlane (returning from maternity leave) and Mrs Teresa Wheatly will share the ESO role for the remainder of Term 2.This week we celebrate National Chappy week.  It recognises the hard work of our school Chaplains and not that I'm biased but our Chappy Tim is hands down one of the best.  Chappy Tim helps to coordinate our school bike bus and spends hours supporting our students to build resilience to challenges faced.  Join me in taking the time to say thank you to Chappy Tim!Mareeba SS is widely recognised for our Inclusive approach to education, ensuring that every day every child is learning and achieving.  This year, the staff at Mareeba SS will continue to embed our Mareeba SS definition of Inclusion: 'At Mareeba SS, Inclusion is acknowledging, respecting and supporting our diverse school community to grow and succeed'. Each of our classrooms have our definition displayed and staff are regularly educating students of this and the associated behaviours as developed through consultation with our school community.

Thank you to our wonderful P&C and Curcio/Tokarahi family for attending the meeting last week.  Our P&C is an important part of our school community and their tireless efforts in fundraising assist in covering the cost of bus transportation for 1 excursion per year level, the purchase of fridges and sound field systems as well as their donations towards CGEN and the Yr6 High Tea are just some of the great things they support.  The P&C also coordinate our school tuckshop and uniform shop.  If you are keen to come along and share your ideas our next meeting is June 21^st 5pm – mark it in your calendar!