Newsletter Term 4 Week 9 2024
Principal's Message
Talofa lava,
Dear Mabel Park Families,
As we approach the end of another school year, I want to take this opportunity to thank all our students for their hard work and dedication throughout 2024. It has been a wonderful year filled with learning, growth, and achievement.
Today, we celebrated Moving on Up Day, where students had the exciting chance to meet their 2025 teachers and classmates. A great deal of thought and care has gone into creating balanced and supportive class groups to ensure the best possible start for your child in the new year. We are confident that 2025 will be a successful and fulfilling year for all.
Thank you to all the families that supported the school’s Colour Run, which was re-scheduled to this afternoon. The kids had lots of fun, and all money raised will support your child’s educational journey at Mabel Park State School.
A reminder to families that Semester 2 report cards will be emailed on Wednesday, 11th December, following the success of our Semester 1 email trial. This streamlined process ensures you receive your child’s report conveniently and securely.
Additionally, we look forward to celebrating the achievements of our Year 6 students during their Graduation Ceremony on Wednesday, 4th December. This marks a significant milestone as they conclude their primary schooling journey and transition into high school. It will be a memorable day shared with parents, family, and friends as we acknowledge this special moment.
Thank you for your ongoing support throughout the year. Together, we’ve made 2024 a remarkable chapter for our school community.
Kind regards,
Masina Taule’alo
Principal
Junior Campus Deputy Principal
Movin’ On Up to our 2025 classes
As the school year comes to a close, students participate in ‘Movin' On Up’, a fun event designed to help them prepare for the upcoming year. This program gives students a chance to meet their new teacher, visit their classroom, and get to know their classmates before the school year officially begins.
The goal of Movin’ On Up Day is to reduce any anxiety about the transition and make students feel excited and confident about the new grade. Through engaging activities and introductions, students can explore what the next school year will look like and make meaningful connections with their peers.
Our leadership team has thoughtfully planned class placements to ensure each student’s success. However, as we finalise staffing and assess student needs, there may be some minor adjustments up until Day 8 of 2025. On Day 8, the Department of Education conducts an enrolment collection to confirm student numbers and staffing requirements. If any changes occur to your child’s class placement, we will keep you updated.
Prep Enrolments for 2025
Just a quick reminder to enrol your child for next year before December 13th. Enrolling early helps us plan ahead for class placements, staffing, and resources, making sure your child has a smooth start to the new school year. If you haven’t done so already, please call the office to find out how to complete the enrolment process. If you need any assistance or have questions, we’re here to help.
Semester 2 Report Cards
Semester 2 report cards will be emailed to parents on December 11th. This is a great opportunity to review your child’s progress and celebrate their hard work over the term.
Please be sure to check your inbox on that day. If you have any questions or would like to discuss your child’s report further, don’t hesitate to reach out to your child’s teacher.
We look forward to sharing your child’s achievements with you!
Alexis Bell
Middle Campus Deputy Principal
Year 6 Graduation
Our Year 6 students have been rehearsing their song for graduation for weeks now and we are all very excited for the Graduation Ceremony next Wednesday at Grace House. Please ensure students are in full school uniform for this exciting event.
Moving on up day
Students in year 5 and 6 in 2025 had some fun today meeting their new teachers and doing interesting activities. All students were very settled and we are so excited to welcome the year 4’s from Junior Campus to Middle Campus. They were very engaged in the classroom and showed a lot of courage in trying new things.
Holiday safety
On behalf of the entire Middle Campus we would like to wish all of our families a happy, safe and relaxing Christmas Holiday with family and friends. We personally thank all of our students for their hard work this year and thank all of our families for their continued support of Mabel Park State School. We look forward to continuing our work together with you in 2025.
Happy Holidays!
Sonya Wright
Student Services at Mabel
Positive Behaviour for Learning (PBL)
Each week, a particular focus area that aligns with our school values of TRUST, COURAGE and REPSECT is presented to all classes. Every day, students can earn Gotchas for displaying the school values.
Our PBL Focus for Week 7: We show COURAGE when I give my best effort all day, every day.
Our PBL Focus for Week8: We Show COURAGE when making mindful choices when managing emotions.
Attendance
It has been fantastic to see so many students Here, Every day, Ready and On time.
Research shows that students who have good patterns of attendance are more likely to achieve at school. If students aren’t at school, they are missing valuable lessons. It is critical that student attendance remains a priority to support the teaching and learning that is taking place.
Learning starts at 8:40am every day. As part of our school policy, you are required to notify the school on the same day that your child is away and let the school know the reason for their absence. If we do not hear from you on the day your child is away, the school will send a text notification in the morning. It is important you keep us updated with any new home address, mobile number and email addresses. As a parent, your obligation is to reply to the text notification with your child’s name, class and reason for absence.
If your child is unwell and cannot come to school, please notify the school of your child's absence by:
- Ringing the school – 07 33865333
- Replying to the SMS sent by the school
- Writing a note explaining the absence
Unexplained Absence Letters have been sent out last week. Please return as soon as possible to your campus office.
Teresa Radicke, Sarah Williamson and Karen Gardyne
Head of Department Student Services
Social Media Concerns
We have had many instances where students are contacting each other via social media and then the repercussions can spill into school.
As a school we would like to remind parents of the legal ages for the following apps:
- Snapchat – 13 years
- TikTok- 13 years
- Instagram – 13 years
- Facebook – 13 years
There has been talk in the media recently about raising the age to 16 years of age. Please see an article posted in the newspaper recently. As a school we have also had School Based Police Officers educate the students on how to be safe online and Cyberbullying. As parents, we have the most control on how much our children access online.
Are your contact details up to date?
We have had a number of instances where we cannot contact parents and caregivers in an emergency. It is vital that the school MUST be able to contact you immediately by telephone, so we need to have the most up-to-date information on our system. Please keep us updated with any new home address, telephone number and email addresses.
Mable Park now has a Coffee Van attending the school for the last few weeks of school every Monday and Tuesday mornings from 7:30 am till 9 am approximately.
You can find the van just outside the Resource Centre on Junior Campus.