Acknowledgement of Country

Reconciliation Australia acknowledges Traditional Owners of Country throughout Australia and recognises the continuing  connection to lands, waters and communities. We pay our respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures; and to Elders past and present. 

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples should be aware that this website contains images or names of people who have passed away

National Sorry Day today 26 May remembers and acknowledges the mistreatment of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who were forcibly removed from their families and communities. National Reconciliation Week is a time for Australians to learn about our shared histories, cultures and achievements. Further information about National Reconciliation Week this year is available on the Reconciliation Australia website. I recently attended the book and movie launch of Brenda Matthew "The Last Daughter" at All Saints Anglican School. Brenda was one of 7 siblings who were forcibly removed in the mid 1970's. Her details can be found at https://thelastdaughter.com.au/

Mudgeeraba Special School will be flying the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Flags on National Sorry Day and throughout National Reconciliation Week recognises the significance of these events for all Australians and is a sign of respect for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and culture. 

The theme for National Reconciliation Week 2023, Be a Voice for Generations, encourages all Australians to be a voice for reconciliation in tangible ways in our everyday lives – where we live, work and socialise.

For the work of generations past, and the benefit of generations future, let’s choose to create a more just, equitable and reconciled country for all.

Our research shows large community support for the next steps in Australia’s reconciliation journey, including the Voice to Parliament, treaty making and truth-telling.

This year’s National Reconciliation Week theme, Be a Voice for Generations, urges all Australians to use their power, their words and their actions to create a better, more just Australia for all of us. 

Reconciliation Week leads to Mabo Day which is a commemorative day that occurs annually on 3 June. It is an official holiday in the Torres Shire, and occurs during National Reconciliation Week in Australia¹. The day is named after Eddie Mabo who was an Indigenous Australian man from the Torres Strait Islands. On 3 June 1992, the High Court of Australia recognised that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have rights to the land. This decision by the High Court is also known as the Mabo decision.

I had the personal experience of meeting Eddie Mabo and his family from Mer Island when I was Principal on Thursday Island State School in the Torres Strait.

We invite our community to join with us on Monday 29 May at 1.20 pm for Our Official Smoking and Flag Raising Ceremony with our invited guests.

This week we have celebrated Under 8's with our Junior and Middle Teams and today collaborating with Mudgeeraba Creek State School. Celebrating our young learners as to nuture them for their post school trajectory.

We have an amazing week ahead with this significan ceremony on Monday, our Positive Pathways Expo on Tuesday, School Review Team here Wednesday to Friday and our Partnership Alliance on 1 June with guest speaker Daniel Murray. We are a community school. 

Yours in Education

Colleen Hope

Principal

Supporting every child and student to be healthy, resilient and confident individuals as they create their future.

We know our school can make the biggest impact. We are at the centre of our community, working with young people, families and the community to make a real difference.

We know that students who attend school regularly, are engaged in the classroom and progress in their learning are more likely to have better outcomes across their schooling journey in to Post School.

Our inclusive approach to learning recognises every student must be supported to realise their potential. This includes supporting students with disability, students from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, and students in out of home care. Our priorities support every Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander student to realise their potential. At each stage of learning, we know that connections to culture enrich the learning of every student and strengthens all of our work.

Through high expectations of academic achievement, engaging every student in learning, supporting wellbeing and celebrating culture and diversity, we create equity and excellence in all our learning settings. This means every student can be equally confident that we will give them every opportunity to succeed and fulfil their enormous potential.

Curriculum, teaching and learning underpins each phase of the learning journey.

Key Protocols to adopt to support our school community:

• Students school contact hours 9 am to 2.45 pm.
• Student supervision with Teacher Aides from 8.30 am to 9.00 am.
• Families to ensure student attendance and contact the school office and approved transport if your young person is unwell.
• Please continue to stay home if your young person is unwell for their health and the consideration of their peers and staff.
• If you are a late arrival it is imperative that you first check in at the office to assist the class flow and the office will follow through with the class to assist you and record attendance on One School – our student attendance is captured in this platform. Please DO NOT go straight to the classroom in line with our Fire and Evacuation Policy to know the whereabouts of all personnel on site.
• No phone calls will be directed to call in school learning times. The office will assist to ensure messaging is forwarded to classrooms or support in case of any emergency.
• Messages and information can be recorded through our SeeSaw Platform as our Electronic Student Communication and teachers will respond within a reasonable time frame according to their departmental agreements.
• Teaching staff are engaged in staff and committee meetings during the week before school which may limit their face to face connect on those mornings.
• Medications will be firstly checked in and signed off as per Departmental Guidelines for Administering Medications at the office with the Office Staff. Once finalised forwarded to classrooms.
• Management of School Transport is an approval at Regional Level.

This week is School Chaplaincy Week. Chaplaincy and student wellbeing officer (formerly ‘student welfare worker’) services are optional for schools and support the general wellbeing of students, parents and staff, provide an additional adult role model in the school and can enhance engagement with the broader community.

Chaplains and student wellbeing officers are inclusive of, and show respect for, all religious and non-religious beliefs and worldviews represented in the school community. All activities and events provided are non-discriminatory and equally available to all students.

We established a chaplaincy service with the assistance of state and/or Australian Government funding through the use of school funds and/or through local community fundraising.

Government funded programs include:

• Australian Government National Student Wellbeing Program
• State Government Chaplain/Student Wellbeing Officer Program (CSWOPs)

Our P&C supported our School Chaplain application some 15 years ago and we have experienced the value added work that our Chaplains have brought to our school community. We welcomed David Jones to our role this term and we want him to know how important he is to our community. 

National Simultaneous Storytime was held on Wednesday 23^rd May at 11am. The aim of the initiative is to have over #1million kids reading the book at the same time across Australia. Mudgeeraba State Special School participate in National Simultaneous Storytime in all classrooms across the school. Teachers used multimodal communication to engage in comments and questions, emergent texts and event-based Age Appropriate Pedagogy activities. 

By facilitating in the National Simultaneous Storytime event, Mudgeeraba State Special School in alliance with Australia Library and Information Association have promoted: 

• the value of reading and literacy, 
• the value and fun of books, 
• Australian writers and publishers, 
• storytime activities in schools and provide opportunities to involve parents, grandparents, the media and others to participate in and enjoy the occasion.

Hi Mudgeeraba Special School Community.

For those who were able to attend, the Burleigh fun walk was a successful morning with lots of laughs & exercise.

Special guests Puggles and Chase the Cheetah lead the warmups for all groups which of course was a highlight for the students. Thank you Mudgee Special staff for yet another amazing event. You’re the Best!

The Positive Pathways Expo at Mudgeeraba Special will be held next Tuesday between 9.30am – 12pm. A great opportunity for parents and carers to gather information relevant to your young person.

My Time is held every Tuesday from 9.30am. This is a great opportunity to relax and chat to other parents. If you have any ideas that you’d like to suggest for My Time, I’m sure Toni would love to hear from you.

The next P&C meeting will be held on the 7^th of June at 9.30am. Come and join us for morning tea and have your say. We would love to see you.  

For those of you who love a trip back in time, the annual Cooly Rocks On Festival is alive in Coolangatta from the 7^th June – 11^th June. For more information, here is the link : www.coolyrockson.com 

Sanctuary Cove is hosting their annual Boat Show from May 25^th – May 28^th. For more information see the link below. Link : https://sanctuarycoveboatshow.com.au/ 

Have a great weekend and take care everyone.

Paula

Exciting news! We have signed up for the 'Wonder Recycling Rewards' program. The aim is to collect bread bags, add them to the collection boxes (which will be located around the school). At the end of the campaign, points will be earned for each recycled bread bag and will be exchanged for sports equipment!