It has been a very busy end to term 3.

On Friday the 10^th of September we held our Mudgee Mini Olympics.  On this day, the students participated in running, pacer or wheelchair races, relays, and a range of activities including an obstacle course, javelin, discus, parachute, throwing games and bowling.  All the students had a lot of fun while developing their gross motor skills and earning points for their sports house (Emus, Wallabies, Dingoes and Magpies). 

As the weather on this Friday was very warm, teachers made sure that the students were safe by wearing hats and sunscreen, sitting in the shade, and drinking lots of water.  We also paused our competition during the middle of the day to allow students to cool off and have lunch in their classrooms.

It was great to have parents on-site for this day to cheer on their young person.  It added to the atmosphere of a wonderful sports day.  Also, a big thank-you to the P&C for volunteering their time to put on a sausage sizzle for the school.

We would like to congratulate Brittany Partington, Tammy Schmid, Sharyn Sutton and Pollyanna Roberts for being successful in gaining a transfer to the New Coomera Special School in 2022.  We thank these staff for the wonderful contribution that they have made to our school over a number of years, and we are very sad to see them leave.  At the same time, however, we are also excited about the opportunities that these staff will have to share their knowledge and experience at Coomera.

We would also like to welcome two transfers into our school community, Shannon Bell and Louise Stone.  Shannon comes from Logan Special School and is passionate around PBL and student centred learning.  Louise comes from Bundaberg Special School and is studying to be a speech pathologist. Louise has a passion for communication and providing every student a voice.

 On Friday the 17^th of September students and staff dressed up as pirates for ‘talk like a pirate’ day.  It was a very fun way to end the term with lots of pirate inspired games and activities.

With ongoing threat of COVID, our school continues to follow COVID-safe health and hygiene practices directed by the government.  These include:

• Staff, students or visitors must not attend school sites if sick
• The wearing of masks and face shields if social distancing is not possible.
• Regular hand washing and hand sanitising
• Increased cleaning of school facilities, particularly high-frequency touch points such as door handles, light switches, desks and water fountains or bubblers
• Regular cleaning of playground equipment and play materials
• Physical distancing of adults.

• Opening of windows to promote air flow where environmental conditions, such as cold weather, allow.

We wish all students, staff and their families an amazing holiday.  We look forward to seeing you all again in term 4.

Kind Regards

Natasha Markwick

Acting Principal

Wednesday 8th September was International Literacy Day.  Mudgeeraba Special School Celebrated by showcasing Emergent Texts.  This process assists our students with additional literacy needs to access written texts making them based around student interests and Core Word focussed so that students can use AAC to access and talk about texts.  Mudgee is so proud of our Teaching staff who work tirelessly each week to ensure Every Student is Succeeding.

On Thursday Mudgeeraba Special School enjoyed our Positive Behaviour Celebration for Learning with some golf fun. Students demonstrated the value of caring and 'I can be a good friend' through the game of putt putt with their peers. Thank you to Pallet Putt Mini Golf for setting up the mini golf experience for our students.

It’s Only a Foot. But It’s My Foot!

I was dragging out a loud speaker in preparation for the Mudgee Olympics school event, which was about to be held the following day, when the sharpest and fiercest of pains struck the top of my bare right foot. At first, my brain couldn’t comprehend the situation: I was still holding the speaker, so I can’t have dropped it and still be holding it in both hands. Huh? What just happened?

Have you ever had those moments where something had gone terribly wrong, but your brain wasn’t keeping step, and you had no idea that you were in pain? Or, that you were even seriously injured? Life is like that at times: it can turn and twist, and leave a trail of destruction like a tornado. The tornado this time, was about 30cms by 30cms, and made of cold, hard steel.

I put the loud speaker down, not realising that I was in pain at that point, as I was yet to figure out what had happened. After placing the speaker (which itself is 10kgs in weight), to the side (still confused as to what I actually dropped), I looked down at my foot and found myself staring at my nephew’s old school car amplifier (all 15kgs of it), still balanced in its spear-like posture pierced through my foot, corner first!

What had happened? The loud speaker was on top of the stereo amplifier, and the action of sliding it out, unfortunately slid out the heavy, evil metal contraption at the same time. Right on top of my right foot. Eeeow! My usual, famous super-human demeanour, that regularly smoulders with Dr Freestone precision, was terribly exposed with my first tear. Yep, that’s right, it brought tears to my eyes (just saying). The pain was excruciating, and the colour of what flowed out, was equally impressive. Although the injury appeared on sight to be only a cm wide, the injury had pierced through to the bottom of my foot, just like a cm nail had been driven through it, leaving a small fracture, and possible tendon damage.

Funny how things can change in a moment. For the next week, I would miss the Mudgee Olympics, a visit to an aged care home, work for the week, a music rehearsal, a coffee meeting with colleagues, more work, a school morning tea, a concert, the Mudgee Show, and at least the first week of the holidays, which always accompanies a lot of fishing and surfing. Nope, cancel all that. Tough luck kid!

What do we do when things change just like that?

2021, has been a challenging year for us all. I think we have the power to choose our response to tough times, but also greatly acknowledge, that some situations are harder, and some situations are easier. And, some of us need more time to heal, while others are able to go about their business within days. Should we sit and elevate our foot, and make sure we rest? Or should we just keep on doing what we’re doing - soldier on, as it were. It’s only a foot!

This holiday, I’d like to encourage you to look into some of your go-to ways of dealing with stuff. Do they work more often than not? Do they need an upgrade? Are they even still working? Do you need a friend to help you through? Maybe, we could benefit from a spring clean-out once in a while, to make sure car stereo amplifiers aren’t hidden under loud speakers? (a regular clean-up and sort-out would easily have prevented my little mishap). Or would a good ol’ rest do the trick and rely on doctor’s orders? Afterall, it’s only a foot! It’s no big deal is it?

Yes, but it’s my foot! And, I only have 2

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