Term 2 MDSS Newsletter

Principal’s message

Term 2 Community Calendar

Messages from Mrs Newlands Deputy Principal – Yrs 3-6

What a wonderful place MDSS is to connect, grow and learn. Students have been learning valuable knowledge and skills across all learning areas. It has been wonderful to see engaged in their informative text units in English which are connected to either their Science Unit or their HASS unit.

Thank you to the families who have purchased cool weather uniforms for their child. Students need to have a green jumper, tracksuit pants or leggings for under dresses. These can be purchased at School Locker, Big W, Kmart, Best and Less or Target. Get in quick though, they sell out!

School Behaviour Expectations

Our high expectations of student behaviour is part of what makes MDSS a great place to learn. We have expectations that we expect all students to meet, so that students are learning, respected and safe. This week, students are learning to respect the school property and to be a resilient learner. Learning a new skill or acquiring new knowledge takes effort, persistence and a positive attitude. Please encourage your child every day to persist through challenging learning and not give up.

Community Picnic

The termly Community Picnic is on Thursday 15^th May. Please ensure you return the note so your child can join in even if you are not attending.

Year 3

It has been wonderful watching the year 3 students enjoy their units on information texts. It’s all about animals with year 3 and they are loving building their knowledge about all thing’s animals!

I know that the year 3s loved the cross country this year. Congratulations to all students who participated – I really enjoyed the team commitment!

Year 4

The year 4 students are getting so excited for their excursion on Friday to St Helena. Learning about the past is challenging as students need to build background knowledge from images, information and texts. Being able to experience what it was like in an early Australian European settlement will support students to develop and deepen their knowledge. Please keep an eye out on Facebook and emails from 7am as we will use these modes to communicate any cancellations or ‘late to return’ messages.

Year 5

Becoming a school leader is a privilege and accolade. In year 5, students develop leadership skills that will become very important as they head to year 6 in 2026. On Tuesday, students participated in the Leadership Incursion Day. I know they will learn a lot while being challenged to think like a leader.

The year 5 students are also well on their way to developing their digital literacy skills. Each day, students are becoming more skilled and confident using digital learning platforms including Padlet and QLearn. This will support them particularly in their English unit where they will be researching the adaptations of animals to their environment.

Year 6

The high school transition was a highlight last week. We had amazing feedback from DBSHS commending our students on their respectful behaviour and eager participation in the activities. 

The team work and community spirit we are seeing in the grade 6 this year is commendable. From learning together, enjoying eating time as a cohort and our student leaders doing an amazing job of leading the ANZAC parade and supporting at the cross country, the year 6s are really starting to show they are ready for high school!

We will hold our next Year 6 Graduation and Events Parent Committee Meeting on Thursday 29^th May at 8:00am in the Library. Please come along if you would like to contribute ideas. So far, we have made some great decisions with the support of a few very amazing parents:

• The Graduation Dance will be held on Thursday 18^th September (Thursday of the last week in term 3).
• The theme is ‘Hollywood’ with a black and gold colour theme.
• Signature bears will be available for sale this year (for students to sign on the last Thursday of the year).
• The graduation ceremony will be held on Tuesday of the last week of term – 9^th December
• The fun ‘Big Day Out’ will be held on Wednesday 10^th Venue TBA.

What a great parent team!

Messages from Mrs Rita Troughton (Head of Special Education) – Yrs Prep to Year 2

Prep

Preps are learning about informative texts that will involve the upcoming farm excursion. Students will read, create and share their own informative text. Here are students working in Prep A.

Year One

Year One is working on report writing that will involve their excursion to Sea Life. Students will read a variety of texts and link into areas of interest. Here is a photo of student beginning work on report writing in 1D.

Year 2

This term, Year 2 are working on reading, creating and sharing an informative text. Tye is working on his text and used the computer to type a sentence out. He drew a hammerhead to go with the text too.

HIVE Program

The HIVE operates two support areas, one in B Block called the Bee HIVE for students in Prep to Year 2 and the HIVE in D Block for Years 3 to 6 and is the headquarters for support services at school. This week identified students received a phonics screener that will inform and track students who will receive timetabled intervention called UFLI this term.

Six teacher aides run sessions as part of their week across the school. For some students, this support compliments other support received from their class teacher and HIVE staff. First and foremost, support begins in the classroom with other layers of support as needed. Here is a visual that outlines inclusive support at Moreton Downs State School.

Moreton Downs State School Sports