Dear Parents/Carers,

 The Premier has announced that as of 4pm on Friday 20 August there will be an easing of restrictions around school sites.   

 Some of the key changes include: 

• Parents/ Carers and visitors will be allowed on school sites. 

• Masks must be worn by adults inside school buildings, but may be removed outdoors, as long as they can keep 1.5 meters apart from other people. 

• Assemblies are now permitted. 

• Excursions and off-campus activities are now permitted.

Parents Week 7 23rd-26th August is the last week of the Premier's Reading Challenge!

As August 27th is our Show Day Holiday, might you all please send your records into your teachers on Monday 30th August to ensure everyone gets their certificate.

Mudgeeraba students can successfully complete this challenge either by engaging in a shared reading experience with a caregiver or by independently reading 20 books before 27th August 2021.  All students who complete the challenge will receive a Certificate of Achievement signed by the Premier of Queensland.

We have added a printable copy of the Individual Readers Record should you wish to print it at home.  These forms are also available in hard copy at the school administration desk.

During week 7 our students will engage with this teaching focus. Through explicit teaching students will learn the importance of looking after both the classroom environment and the local environment by placing their rubbish in the bin after eating or when out in the community.  They will learn to identify items for the school recycling program and put them in the correct allocated recycling bin. These items will be then be taken to the Cash for Containers site to fund raise for our school community.

Parents, you can assist this learning in a home to school partnership by directing your young person to undertake recycling in your own home.  Your young person may be able to sort the items and bring aluminium cans, water and soft drink bottles to school to assist our recycling program. We encourage you to send your recyclables to school, which will assist our Community Partnerships and fundraising efforts.

Take One for the Team

 A student complimented the face mask that I was wearing today. They simply said, “I like your face mask!” It was actually a lovely compliment from quite a shy student, which made it really special. Oh, what a simple little thing that can help us get through our days: a simple compliment (even though it was the mask that they were complimenting, and not me!).

 In my mind, as I walked back to my office, I replayed the compliment, and imagined a range of responses:

 “Why, this ol thang?”

 “I’m so much better looking with this thing on!”

  “Oh no, yours is so much nicer!”

 “Really? At least my face, from here to here, will lose weight, what with all the sweat underneath!”

 And, then I realized that all the responses that I had imagined, weren’t all that positive. Had I responded to the student in a positive manner? I couldn’t remember. Where did these imagined responses come from? Had I heard them before? Did they rise to the surface from my default response vault - from my comical closet of comebacks?

 Why do we do that? Why is it so hard to take on a compliment once in a while? If you’re not sure what I’m talking about (I get that a bit with my lack of clarity from time to time), try to catch yourself the next time someone pays you a compliment, and take note of your reply. Will you shrug it off because it was awks? Will you deflect the compliment? Or, will you simply say, “Thanks”!

 I remember a recent situation, where I complimented a cousin for how beautiful she and her mum looked in a family photo, and she flick passed it by complimenting a photo that I was in. I remember feeling a smidgen confused, and reiterated the compliment, which received an identical response. I remember questioning my sincerity, and thinking that I must have come across as rude, or sarcastic, which I wasn’t being at all.

 What will you say? When someone tells you that your face mask is cool, how will you respond? Hopefully, my response was, “Thanks”. What will you say to your next compliment? What will you say when someone tells you that you did a great job. How will you respond when someone thanks you for helping them through something tough? And, they will come! Will we respond with a, “My pleasure,” or, “Thanks”? Or, will we utter the words, “Yeah, but Joe does it so much better than me,” or, “Nah, I didn’t do anything, really!”?

 Maybe, it’s time to take one for the team. Maybe, it’s time to receive the compliment gift that came our way. Maybe, it’s time to enjoy the moment. Maybe, it’s time to recognize that we deserve some niceties once in a while. When life throws us what it throws us… and we can insert almost anything in there, let me encourage you to slap on that catcher’s mitt, and let that pitcher’s compliment go smack bang into the palm of your heart, and take one for the team. It’s nice to hear something good. Why Not? Go on, I’m certain you earned it, and take one for the team!

We encourage you to keep up to date through the NDIS websites.

https://everyaustraliancounts.com.au/

https://www.ndis.gov.au/participants/independent-assessments/independent-assessment-process

https://www.ndis.gov.au/community/have-your-say/interventions-children-autism-spectrum?fbclid=IwAR3-yzR5VE-YUVL99n2RM2NXynqvx4uc5SWv-tjqogxtvuxYt_ArAUNeXDk

Stop the Spread of COVID-19

Maintaining the required hygiene and physical distancing measures in place in our school. These are our most effective ways to stop the spread of COVID-19. 

Any person who is sick (staff, student or parent) should stay home and if they have any COVID-19 symptoms, no matter how mild, get tested.

Symptoms of COVID-19 can include: 

• Fever
• Cough
• Sore throat
• Runny nose
• Loss of taste or smell
• Tiredness and muscle aches
• Vomiting and/or diarrhoea
• Shortness of breath

If students or staff present at school as unwell we will follow up and request an imediate early departure until a medical clearance is provided and confirmation that the person is well.

We need to ensure we stay home if recurring flu like symptoms present to decrease the spread of influenza.

Further information about COVID-19 testing is available via the link below:

https://www.qld.gov.au/health/conditions/health-alerts/coronavirus-covid-19/stay-informed/testing-and-feverclinics

If you have any questions, please call your doctor or call 13 HEALTH (13 43 25 84) in these continuing concerning times.

• Student attendance 8.30 am till 2.45 pm.
• Phone the office and request the classroom. Please always be mindful of students' learning and teachers teaching times.
• If you are late to start the school day please attend the School Office and staff will assist with contacting your class.
• Utilise the students' Communication Diary and Seesaw.
• Request face to face meetings through your class teacher before, after school or in their noncontact time.

Via Social Media:

Did you know... Mudgeeraba Special School have our own departmental approved Instagram page? Stay up to date with the latest in the classroom, school and community through Facebook and our newest addition to the Mudgeeraba Special social media family, our Instagram account. Follow us today https://www.instagram.com/mudgeerabaspecial/ and tag us @mudgeerabaspecial