Dear Mudgeeraba Special School Families,

It has been a bustling fortnight at Mudgeeraba Special School. Today, we hosted our first school-based Colour Fun Walk, which was a tremendous success. A heartfelt thank you to everyone who came out to support our students; we couldn't have pulled off such a big event without our amazing volunteers. Additionally, a big shout out to all the staff who participated and shared in the day's excitement.

Over the weekend, I attended the Mudgeeraba Street Party with my family. It was a fantastic day to explore and connect with the community. There were many highlights, especially our Mudgee Melodies, who performed confidently in front of a large crowd. The Senior School market stall also did well, selling their handmade products.

Last Monday, all students had the opportunity to attend the "Heave Ho Off We Go" whole school performance. By all accounts, it was a fantastic show featuring pirates, magic, live animals, and a special appearance from Puggles.

On Wednesday, the Senior School held their first Partnership Breakfast. It is always a pleasure to connect with our business partners, and the senior students proudly showcased their hospitality and vocational skills.

Important Reminder – Positive Pathways Expo – Planning Positive Futures Tuesday, the 28th of May, is the Mudgeeraba Special School Positive Pathways Expo. This event is a wonderful opportunity for parents and carers to connect with various providers that offer support services for our students. All families and community members are welcome to attend the Expo.

Embracing Communication: The Impact of Proloquo in Our School Community

Communication is at the heart of learning, and our school community has taken a giant leap forward by embracing the innovative AAC (Augmentative and Alternative Communication) tool, Proloquo. This remarkable software has become an integral part of our school community, enabling students and staff to explore and expand their language.

Proloquo is not just a tool; it's a gateway to a richer form of communication for our school community. Its vast array of language features offers users an extensive vocabulary, promoting not only verbal expression but also comprehension and interaction. The diversity and depth of Proloquo's language options mean that every teacher can find the words they need, fostering greater confidence and engagement in learning for students.

Coaching for Success with Amanda Hartman

The successful implementation of Proloquo in our school is not just due to the software itself but also the dedicated coaching provided by Amanda Hartman. Her expertise has been invaluable, guiding staff through the nuances of Proloquo and helping them integrate it seamlessly into their classrooms. Amanda's coaching sessions have empowered our staff, encouraging them to set personal goals and develop tailored strategies to support their students.

A School-Wide Transformation

It is truly inspiring to walk through our school and see every room utilizing Proloquo across all learning environments. From classrooms to playgrounds, Proloquo is helping students express themselves, connect with their peers, and participate more fully in school life. The presence of this tool has transformed our approach to communication, making it more inclusive and dynamic.

Welcoming David Niemeijer to Our School

We are honored to announce that on the 10th of September, David Niemeijer, the CEO & Founder of AssistiveWare, will be visiting our school. His visit will be a wonderful opportunity to showcase how Proloquo has enriched our school and share our talented staff and students. Stay tuned for more updates and stories of success as we continue this exciting journey with Proloquo.

Warm regards,

Renee Zhu

Principal

What an incredible day we had at our Colour Explosion Fun Walk! Thank you to everyone who joined us to make it such a memorable day. Our students were sprayed with laughter, friendship and tons of colour.

We had a fantastic day at the Mudgeeraba Street Party on Sunday 19 May. Thanks to all the students who came with their families and to our our wonderful staff for volunteering their time to support them.

The Senior School held a partnership Breakfst on Wednesday 22 May. Thank you to Stevyn Tonta, our guest speaker and founder of the RABA Urban farm, for sharing his journey and insights into how communities can work together to create a more sustainable, inclusive and supportive world for all. Thank you to our amazing senior students and staff for hosting such a great event and showcasing their hospitality and vocational skills.

I sat down with my chicken and salad sandwich under a beautiful tree on a lovely sunny day overlooking Lake Orr. I took a few bites from half the sandwich and put the other half of the sandwich down wrapped in its paper on the concrete step next to me. It only took a few minutes before I noticed that there were several ants who had become interested in my sandwich. Not wishing my sandwich to become overrun with ants I began to think of how may I overcome the situation. I took one of the pieces of chicken out of the sandwich and place it on a stair about 2 m away from me. Over the next 5 minutes I watch the most amazing events unfold before my eyes.

About 10 seconds after I put that piece of chicken down, ants began to investigate the chicken. Not long after that the ants that had been on the paper of my sandwich left and joined those who were investigating the piece of chicken I had placed on the step. Within about a two minutes the step beside me had transformed from a concrete step to a see of black excited ants all involved in an amazing act of team work. The large peace of chicken began to move and parts of it were disappearing. The chicken began to move so much that it fell from the step onto the grass below and then quickly disappeared.

I found their teamwork astounding. Thousands of ants working together to destroy the piece of chicken to feed the entire colony. Just imagine what we could achieve if we worked together, . I imagine what you could achieve if as you were going through those problems of everyday life you look to others to help you and work through them as an effective team.

I encourage you not to keep trying to work through things by yourself, but find some friends people who you know you can trust. Then together work through those issues that come up in life big or small and just like that chicken you will see results come quicker and with a lot less stress.