Regards

Colleen Hope

Principal

Week 1 – We keep our hands and feet to ourselves, we keep our hands and feet off the seats. 

During week 1 in Term 2 our students will look at this explicit teaching focus in a number of ways.  Through explicit and incidental teaching when students are learning in groups, or at assembly timely reminders to use words or the student’s individual Alternative and Augmentative Communication device rather than touching to gain attention.  Reminders for students to access sensory or calming strategies when anxious. Keeping feet off the seats would occur when students are accessing community transport, or other community outings also reminders that feet belong on the floor and not on classroom furniture or chairs. 

Parents and carers you can assist with this learning by reminding your young person that feet belong on the floor when sitting on furniture in the house or in the car.  You can share strategies used in the home with your classroom teacher and ask about the MSSS calming strategies poster so that school and home are using similar language and strategies.

Year 7 & Year 10 School Vaccinations Happening Soon!

Queensland Health’s annual School Immunisation Program provides secondary school students in state and non-state schools across Queensland the opportunity to be vaccinated against a range of diseases.

The following vaccines are offered for Year 7 students:

• Human papillomavirus (HPV)

• Diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis (whooping cough)

The following vaccine is offered for Year 10 students:

• Meningococcal A, C, W and Y

The Gold Coast Public Health’s Immunisation team will be providing vaccinations to all Year 7 students on Monday 19 April 2021 (1^st day of Term 2) and Monday 1 November 2021, and Year 10 students on Monday 19 April 2021.

You should have received an email from admin.immunisegc@health.qld.gov.au to the address you have nominated with the school (please check your junk mail folder).  If you haven’t received this email you can contact Gold Coast Public Health’s immunisation team on 1800 940 750 or drop into the school office to collect a hard copy form.

2021 Next Step survey

The Queensland Government is conducting its annual statewide survey of all students who completed Year 12 in 2020. The Next Step survey is a brief, confidential survey that gains a comprehensive picture of the employment, study and life choices made by Queensland school completers in the year after they finish Year 12.

Between April and June, all our students who completed Year 12 last year can expect to receive instructions to complete a web-based survey or a telephone call from the Queensland Government Statistician’s Office. Please encourage them to take part. If their contact details have changed, please assist the interviewer with their updated details or forward the survey to their new address so they can participate.

Thank you for your support of the Next Step survey in 2021.

Further information on Next Step, including results from previous years, is available online at www.qld.gov.au/nextstep or on toll free telephone 1800 068 587.

Unfortunately CPL have re evaluated their support offerings and are not continuing their After School and Vacation support based at Mudgeeraba Special School. We are exploring alternative partners and have been negotiating with Ruby and Ollies. We can connect families with their program at Currumbin Community Special for this Vacation as they still have vacancies as of Wednesday 30 March. Mel Colenso P&C President and I are meeting with the Founder Rebecca in the first week of Term 2 to discuss options for our school as one of the interested partners.

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.

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