Dear Mudgeeraba Special School Families,

Greetings and welcome to the latest issue of the Mudgeeraba Special School newsletter! I would like to thank you all the wonderful mothers, grandmothers, and special guests who joined us for our Mother’s Day Morning Tea. Your presence made the event truly special, and it was heart-warming to see our school community come together in celebration. The morning was a great success, filled with laughter, connection, and appreciation for the important role you play in our students’ lives. We hope you enjoyed the treats, conversations, and time spent with your children. Thank you again for being part of this memorable occasion!

Yesterday our school attended the Mudgeeraba Street Party. What 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.

As some of you may be aware Natasha Markwick is no longer at Mudgeeraba Special School. She has taken up a position at a local school and I wish her well in her new position. I am currently undertaking the recruitment for a Deputy Principal as well as a Head of Department: Student Wellbeing and Engagement. I hope to be able to announce the successful applicants in our school’s next newsletter.

​I kindly remind all parents and carers of our school’s operating hours to ensure a smooth and safe start and end to each day. School begins promptly at 9 AM, and students should arrive no earlier than 8:30 AM, as supervision is not available before this time. The school day finishes at 2:45 PM, and we ask that students are picked up promptly to ensure their safety and wellbeing. If your child is going to be late or absent, please notify the school office as soon as possible. Thank you for your continued support in helping us maintain a safe and structured environment for all students. 

Reporting Update

 Starting this year, our academic report cards will align with Version 9 of the Australian Curriculum and new departmental requirements. While we will continue to provide two reports annually, they will now consist solely of Department-generated OneSchool reports, offering a clear snapshot of your child’s learning, participation, and achievement throughout the semester. 

Assessment tasks will no longer be sent home but will be retained for ICP meetings and used as planning tools for future learning. Unlike previous reports, this new format does not support the inclusion of photos. However, our dedicated teachers will continue to share regular updates and photos through weekly communications to keep you connected to your child’s learning journey. 

Please note that Senior reports will remain unchanged, reflecting our ongoing work towards QCIA goals.

If you have any questions or concerns about these changes, we encourage you to reach out to a member of our executive team. We’re here to support you every step of the way.

Although we advocate for open communication, it's important to note that teachers may not always be available to read or respond to electronic messages during core learning periods due to their teaching responsibilities. Additionally, the decision to engage in electronic communication during non-work days, weekends, or school holidays rests with the discretion of the individual teacher.

The Departments Communicating with your child’s school fact sheet is attached to the end of this week’s newsletter.

Remember to stay connected with Mudgeeraba Special School on Facebook! Our page features frequent updates and posts highlighting school celebrations, important reminders, and upcoming events.

Yours Sincerely,

Renée Zhu

Principal

We’re incredibly proud of our senior students who are demonstrating leadership, compassion, and commitment through a wide range of volunteering and vocational experiences this term.

Making a Difference Through Volunteering

Our seniors have been actively engaged in various community-based volunteer placements that not only develop their lif skills but also foster empathy and social responsibility. Their contributions have made a real difference in:

· Aged Care: Spending meaningful time with elderly residents, sharing stories, and playing games

· Child Care: Assisting educators in early learning centres, supporting young children’s play and learning experiences.

· Car Wash: Running a car wash service to assist community members

· Gardening: Maintaining and beautifying local green spaces and school gardens, learning sustainability and landscape care.

· Animal Care: Volunteering to assist with supporting ocean sustainability.

These placements are not only a wonderful way to give back, but also build real-world experience that students can take forward into their future

Stepping into the Future with Certificate Courses

In addition to their volunteer work, many of our senior students are enrolled in Certificate I courses that provide valuable pathways into further training and employment. These programs are hands-on, industry-focused, and a great way for students to explore their interests while gaining nationally recognised qualifications.

· Access to Vocational Pathways: Students are learning entrepreneurial and creative skills by designing and producing handmade candles, which they are now marketing and selling within the school and wider community.

· Hospitality: Budding chefs and hosts are sharpening their skills in our school kitchen—preparing meals, mastering food safety, and practicing front-of-house service in a simulated café environment.

· Agrifoods: Through this course, students are getting their hands dirty and learning essential skills in sustainable agriculture by maintaining our school gardens and growing fresh produce.

On Friday 9 May  we celebrated Mother’s day and said a HUGE thank you to all our amazing Mums, Grandmothers, Auntys and Sisters who make such a difference in the lives of our young people. Our guests were treated to a morning tea and show from the Mudgee melodies, before visiting the classrooms and seeing the wonderful work their young person is doing. Thank you to all our students and staff for making it such a memorable day. 

On Monday 12 May we said thank you to our amazing Departmental Nurses, Bec and Toni. These ladies work tirelessly to ensure our school can support the often complex health needs of our students. They work closely with families and other health professionals to develop individualised health plans, then ensure our school has the procedures, equipment and staff training in place to enable our students to access all school activities safely with the support they need.

Our Senior students engage in Certificate I courses to develop their vocational, literacy, numeracy and life skills in a practical setting. Here of some pictures of our AVP students in action making candles and lanyards.

National Simultaneous Storytime (NSS) is an Australia-wide group reading and literacy event, where schools gather children together to read the same chosen picture book at the same time around the country. The aim of NSS is to promote the value and fun of books, reading, and community storytime activities, as well as the work of the featured author and illustrator. This year the book is ‘The Truck Cat’ and will be held on Wednesday 21 May at 12 noon.. This touching tale features Tinka, a cat journeying alongside his human companion, Yacoub, as they navigate themes of belonging, connection, and finding a place to call home. All classes at Mudgeeraba Special School will read the book, Amanda Hartman has created a video reading of the book using Proloquo that classes will have access to.

We would love to invite families of students in Early Years 1-8 to join us in celebrating Under 8s Day next Wednesday the 21st of May. Early Years 1-4 will be at 9:15am while Early Years 5-6 will be at 1:45pm.

Not long until our Positive Pathways Expo. This free event gives ALL our families the opportunity to connect with a range of service providers. If you are after community access programs, day programs, therapy services, further education or employment opportunities, this expo will give you the chance to gather information, ask questions and start planning a positive pathway ahead for your young person.

The sun was shining brightly, warming us as we got out of the car and arrived at the park. We could see for miles, looking over Hinze Dam and the mountains on the other side. The sky was clear and beautiful. As we sat down, the wind started to blow, and it became quite cold. 

Then, as we looked to the mountains, we saw a haze approaching. We knew that very shortly, we were going to get drenched as the rain came over the mountains, across Hinze Dam, and straight to the park where we were sitting. A family in an undercover area in the park also saw the rain coming and quickly retreated to their cars. 

My wife and I moved to the undercover area, wrapped ourselves in our picnic blanket, and sat in the most protective spot we could find, just letting the rain come. The skies that had been clear became misty and then darkened. We could hardly see the end of the park. The rain began to fall lightly at first, then heavier and heavier. Thankfully, the blanket kept us dry and warm as we watched the rain pour over us. 

As the rain got heaviest, we could see just beyond the clouds a spot of blue sky. It gave us hope that maybe the blue sky would return, and we could sit again in the park, enjoying the beautiful view. The rain gradually lessened, the mist disappeared, and suddenly, we could see the view before us again. The crystal-clear waters of Hinze Dam sparkled, with the mountains in the background running down to the water. Little boats traveled back and forth on the dam, perhaps doing some fishing. The sky became clear and ultimately blue, and the warmth returned. We took the blanket off and put it somewhere to dry. 

As I think about this, I reflect on the times in our lives when things look really dark and dim. We can see difficulties coming, and they don’t go away—they hit us right in the face like that storm did. But the wonderful thing about life is that if we just keep on track, if we work through the storms in whatever way we can—whether it be by putting a blanket around us like my wife and I did, or in any other way we find—once those storms pass, the blue sky will return. The warmth will drench your face again, and life will return to normal.

 So, can I encourage you? Even though sometimes we battle, even though sometimes life looks grey and problems definitely come, they will pass. And when they do, we will see that beautiful blue sky of peace again in our lives and our families.

All welcome to our next P&C Meeting on Tuesday 20th of May at 9:30am.

It is with pleasure that we invite children between the ages of 5 - 14 to participate in our Sony Foundation Children’s Holiday Camp. 

There is no cost involved in participation.

The Camp is a three-day residential camp for children with intellectual and physical disabilities. It is to be held at Loreto College – 415 Cavendish Road, Coorparoo QLD  4151 on September 20-22 September 2025. Campers will meet at Loreto College, to a time conveyed closer to the camp.   

The Camp provides three days of care, friendship and entertainment for the children.  It also provides respite for families, as senior students, who have taken on training, volunteer to take on the role of Companions for the camp.  Each participating child (the camper) has two full time companions who are in turn supported by a team of staff, volunteers and medical facilitators. The Camp offers extensive on-site facilities, medical staff and care of the highest standard. 

For the children, the Camp is one of fun with a day at Dreamworld, art, cooking, musical activities and an outdoor adventure. 

If you know of children and families who would benefit from participation in the camp, could you please provide them with the enclosed information package. Alternatively, they could contact Mrs Kerri-Anne O’Neill on 30101115 or sonycampapplications@slc.qld.edu.au for an application package.