Term 2, 2020 – a term to remember!

A term which will be long remembered for many reasons, we hope you look at back at this time looking at the positives and achievements that have occurred from MSSS school and home community working together to achieve success for our young people.

Some of the positive outcomes from this period of time has given us renewed determination to make a brighter future: certainly as a school we can take several positives from this situation. It is a time for more, not less.

As a school community we have reinforced the necessity for empathy in working together for our mutual benefit. We have all learned to be more flexible, more creative, more reflective and more humble. Mudgeeraba Special School made sure we added a lot of fun into our time together which we will continue into term 3.

Over COVID time we have taken away that it’s really important to have a sharp focus, despite the challenges, frustrations and difficulties caused by the current situation, we can emerge more resilient and with greater appreciation of what we do have.

Report Cards

This week you would have received an adapted report card to share the wonderful achievements that have occurred over the last Semester. Early in term 3, teachers will book a meeting with every member of our school community to design an ICP (Individual Curriculum Plan) or PFAP (Personal Future Action Plan) meeting.

 A little Mudgee challenge to recharge

We set our school community a wellbeing challenge, we would love you to engage in the following activities over the holidays. You can share this with your teacher when you return to school.

You have 5 challenges;

1. Read a book
2. Do an activity with family
3. Spend some time outside
4. Spend time baking something special
5. Do an activity that you haven’t done before

We wish you a safe and magnificent break and can't wait to see you all again.

During Week 1 of Term 3 our students will engage in learning about the explicit behaviours connected to our School Values of being Honest, Caring and Respectful.  Teachers will explicitly teach and label the school based expectations of being Honest - We Own Our Actions and We Ask For Help. The school based values of being Caring - We are Kind and We Care About Personal Space.  The school based values of being Respectful - We Follow Follow Instructions and We Use Whole Body Listening.

Parents can assist with this learning in a home school partnership by labeling behaviours when your young person demonstrates them throughout the holidays. Examples of honest behaviours may be carrying out home based chores, students may ask for help when they are unsure how to perform a chore, or they may own their actions after an event.  Examples of caring behaviours may be: reminding students when travelling in the community to care about personal space to increase their own personal safety surrounding COVID-19.  Being kind to their siblings or by helping with dinner. Examples of respectful behaviours may be: following instructions complete a task or household chore or showing whole body listening behaviours when engaging in family game night or conversations around the dinner table.

To Connect or Disconnect….

Think back over the past week to when someone tried to make you do something you didn’t want to do…

What strategies did they use?

Chances are that they used one of the following behaviours that reflect the destructive mindset of reward and punishment – The Dead End Roads

How do you feel when someone treats you like this?

The Dead End Roads are part of a primitive and common psychology which says;

• ‘I can control others’
• ‘I am right and you are wrong’
• ‘I always know what is best for you’
• ‘If you don’t do things my way, I will make you’
• ‘I have the right to make you do what I want’

This type of thinking is seen at every level of society and between countries.

Forcing others to do what we want may bring temporary compliance, but the price we pay for these Dead End Road behaviours is unhappiness and disconnection. Much of our emotional pain is the result of our reactions to these harmful and destructive habits. Children constantly threatened or punished may decide to withdraw (‘I can never win so why bother!’) or fight back defiantly (‘You can’t make me!’). They may blame and criticise themselves and may then be diagnosed as being depressed or as having a behavioural disorder!

Do you use the Dead End Roads on yourself?

Let’s take this one step further. When you travel the Dead End Roads and use them on yourself, you are in danger of destroying your own life! Do you ever find yourself thinking;

• ‘It’s all my fault’ (blaming),
• ‘Poor me. Why me?’ (complaining),
• ‘I’m no good.’ (criticising),
• ‘I’ve got to stop eating or I’ll put on weight!’ ie. telling yourself the same thing over and over (nagging)?

 Most of us have learnt to say these types of things to ourselves from a very early age, repeating in our own minds the words of those well-meaning people who criticised, blamed, complained and nagged at us. As a result of developing these beliefs, our confidence and self-esteem is damaged and we constantly feel inadequate when under pressure. We then use the same controlling behaviour on our children, keeping alive these Dead End Road behaviours.

Fortunately there is another choice – The Open roads. 

We will examine the Open roads in the next newsletter. 

Reproduced with permission from:

Honey, I (2015). Happy Parenting: Raising Positive and Empowered Kids.       

If your young person is going to be away from school or going to be transported to school by you, it is your responsibility to notify Metro coaches or the taxi company that they will not be travelling on their contract transport. Please contact administration if you have not got the relevant contact details for your childs service and we will supply them. Thanks for your assistance.

Information from Australian Government

We will pay the second $750 Economic Support Payment to eligible people in July.

You may get the second Economic Support payment if you are living in Australia and get one of the following on 10 July 2020:

• Age Pension
• Bereavement Allowance
• Carer Allowance
• Carer Payment
• Commonwealth Seniors Health Card
• Disability Support Pension
• Double Orphan Pension
• Family Tax Benefit A
• Family Tax Benefit B
• Pensioner Concession Card.

If you are eligible, we will pay it straight into your bank account. You do not need to do anything.

Medical Cooling and Heating Electricity Concession Scheme

The Medical Cooling and Heating Electricity Concession Scheme helps with electricity costs for people who have a chronic medical condition, such as multiple sclerosis, autonomic system dysfunction, significant burns or a severe inflammatory skin condition, which is aggravated by changes in temperature. It currently provides $340.85 (including GST) per year to eligible applicants (eligibility is reviewed every two years).

https://www.qld.gov.au/community/cost-of-living-support/concessions/medical-concessions/medical-cooling-heating-electricity-concession-scheme#How%20to%20apply 

Public Dental Services

Due to Covid 19, the scheduled Dental Van visit has been postponed. 

Public dental services are delivered via a range of facilities including mobile dental clinics, school dental clinics and community dental clinics. The Oral Health Clinic is only taking appointments for extreme emergencies at this time. They can be contacted on 1300 300 850.

• 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
• Request face to face meetings through your class teacher.

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