Senior and Junior Secondary students participate in a range of skill development programs. 

On Thursday (7 October), some of our students travelled to Foxwell State Secondary College to help create packs for participants in the South-East Region Learning Fair and Expo.  Well done to all these students for a fantastic job!

During week 2 our students will learn about this explicit teaching focus. Through incidental and explicit teaching scenarios during the teaching of the Health curriculum in teacher release time students will learn the importance of caring for their bodies, practising good hygiene with a particular focus on Covid Safe hand washing skills.  Students will understand the importance of sunscreen and being a SunSmart Super Hero in alignment with the Health and Physical Education Committee's initiatives.  

Families can assist with the explicit teaching of these skills in a home/school partnership by modelling application of hand sanitiser when entering shops in the community and the washing of hands after all activities to ensure everyone in the community remains safe.  Families can assist their young people with being Sunsmart by modelling the application of sunscreen when they go outside to work or exercise on the weekend.

Dad, Stop! We Want to Play!

An adventure that came to mind this week, was a memory of my family’s very first trip to the snow. Talking about the cold during this early streak of heat on the GC, seems to be a little out of place, I know. But, it’s the only story I can think of that illustrates a point I’d like to use to inspire us into this last term of the year. So, if you’d rather not throw on the ‘ol thermals, and put on a beanie for effect, I’ll understand.

I grew up in Sydney, so a trip by car to the snow country was around 3-4 hours long. But, the long trip for us kids, quickly faded into history with the first sighting of snow on the side of the road. Not spadefuls, but handfuls of snow, appeared out of nowhere on the side of the road – only on one side at first, and then slowly but steadily, on both sides. Oh wow! Snow!

“Dad! Wow, dad! Can we stop and play in the snow, pleeeeeeeze?”

Neither of us kids had ever seen snow before. I remember that the handfuls of snow that were appearing, looked like ice-cream - little scoops, that someone had carefully dolloped on the side of the road. They were pure and clean, and just aching to have little kids pick them up and lovingly nestle them into snowballs, or a snowman. But, wait. Hang on, why aren’t we stopping?

Have you ever felt like you just couldn’t wait another second?

“Daaad! We want to stop and play in the snow!”

We didn’t stop.

“You haven’t seen anything yet. Just wait. You’ll see”, answered dad, and we powered on.

As the journey progressed, with us little kids begging to stop and play in the snow, and our wise old owl father, calmly but lovingly driving on, we noticed that the clumps of ice-cream were beginning to get bigger. As we drove, the amount of snow progressively grew and grew, while the road and country side around us was increasingly being blanketed by beautiful sheets of white. It was mind-boggling. And, when we arrived at our destination, the vast covering of snow across the mountains around us was breathtaking. The sheer amount of the stuff was amazing. It covered everything and was everywhere: all over parked cars, hanging off roofs in the form of icicles, and even along the railings of stairways, and window sills. It was truly a spectacle. We couldn’t wait to have our first snow fight, and make our first snow angel.

“So, do you want to play here, or do you want me to take you back?” called dad. This was his way of telling us that we would have missed the huge beauty of the Perisher Valley, if we had settled on the tiny puddles. It was my dad’s way of assuring us, that he knew something that we didn’t. It was my dad’s way of teaching us that waiting for something better, can sometimes be more worthwhile than we assume. It was my dad’s way of getting us to stick with the distance, and not sell ourselves short. Three cheers for dad! Three cheers for Perisher Valley!

What about you? Ever waited a little longer to discover the pot of gold around the next corner? I’ve often wondered about what could have been if I had only waited a little longer. There’s no telling what the future holds, I know. But still, it’s my hope and prayer, that during this last term of the school year, that we all make it safely and surely, to our Perisher Valley moment. I’m sure it’s going to be worth the wait.

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