From the Principal’s Desk

Next P&C Meeting - TONIGHT (Wednesday 15/09) The final meeting of our P&C Association for this term has been set for next Wednesday 15th September at 7.00pm. Parents & friends of our school are cordially invited to attend and will be made most welcome. We look forward to your company and hope you can join us then.

Student DISCO tomorrow (Thurs 16/09) evening - MRSS Students only Our first DISCO for the school year will take place in our Hall next week on Thursday 16th September. In order to ensure the safety & enjoyment of attending students, we will be dividing our DISCO into two halves, with details as follows: ▪ Juniors (Prep-Year 2) 5.00pm-6.15pm ▪ Seniors (Years 3-6): 6.30pm-8.00pm

▪ Entry Cost: $5 per student

▪ A canteen will be open to offer drinks, lollies and chips for sale. The P&C Association will be conducting an ‘Everything that Glows’ stall to add a bit of colour to the event through the sale of glowing products available to the children to purchase & wear on the night. Glow sticks will not be sold nor should they be brought along) ▪ Our DISCO is a lock-in style – staff supervision will be provided and once the children enter, they will only be permitted to leave upon the arrival by parents for collection. Please note that only school-aged students enrolled at Middle Ridge SS will be able to attend our Disco.

Free Dress Day this FRIDAY - Fundraiser for the Toowoomba Hospice All Prep-Year 6 students are invited to take part in a special Free Dress Day this Friday 17th September, in support of the Toowoomba Hospice. Children are welcome to come dressed in appropriate casual clothes of their/your choice, as long as they do so in a responsible and respectful manner. Parents are kindly asked to monitor the choice of plain clothes to be worn by the children. The following are still required so that children can continue to engage safely in their program at school:

• Closed in shoes / sandshoes, (NO sandals, thongs, heels or slip-ons)

• Broad brimmed hat

• Shirts worn by students need to have sleeves and are not to carry any offensive images or language

• Restrictions on jewellery still applies, ie. not to be worn

Participating children are kindly asked to bring at least a GOLD COIN donation (per child) which will be collected on the day. Thank you for your generous assistance and support for this worthy fundraiser.

PREP Year 2022 - Special Events & Date Claimers for Middle Ridge SS Parents of eligible Prep Year children may like to note the following dates of some of the preparatory events we’ll be conducting at our ▪ PREP Come & Try Mornings Tues 19 Oct, Wed 20 Oct, Thurs 21 Nov, Fri 22 Oct - all 9.15-10.45am – bookings open via the school office – phone or visit ▪ 2022 Individual PREP Parent Interviews: Tues 02, Wed 03, Thurs 04, Fri 05 Nov - 7.45am-5.00pm daily – bookings open via the school office – phone or visit Feel free to contact our school office should you require further details or information.

2022 & 2023 Prep Year Enrolments Invited Now

We are formally inviting parents of age eligible children to express an interest in enrolling for the 2022 & 2023 Prep Year program at Middle Ridge SS. Parents of age and catchment eligible children are particularly asked to register your enrolment intention NOW for the 2022 Prep Year program. This includes the younger siblings of families already enrolled with us. Age and residence (home address) criteria apply.

2021 Student NAPLAN Summary Reports Individual Student NAPLAN Reports for Year 3 & 5 students who participated in this year’s annual national assessments in May have been received by the school. These one-off reports will be sealed in envelopes and distributed to Parents via their Year 3 or 5 child this Friday.

School Contacts:

Principal Craig Barron

Deputy Principals

Belinda Brett Jill Temple

Office Admin Staff

Julie Collingwood (BM) Sammi Brock (AO) Dianne Pentecost (AO)

Phone

46874222

Email

admin@ middleridgess.eq.edu.au

Outside School Hours Care

Hall-Thorpe Sports 4638 7965

Tuckshop Convenor

Amanda Ryan 0419 620 138 P&C Association

Meets at 7pm on the 3rd Wednesday each month. All parents welcome. School Motto

‘Where seeds of learning become forests of opportunity’

School Values

We value & strive for: ▪ Respect ▪ Learning ▪ Honesty ▪ Kindness ▪ Co-operation ▪ Social Justice ▪ Self-discipline

- NEWSLETTER - Middle Ridge State School

Wednesday 15th September 2021 ‘Where seeds of Learning become forests of Opportunity’ 30/21

www.middleridgess.eq.edu.au 203 Spring Street, Middle Ridge. Q. 4350 4350

Students bringing home some School Resources over the Holidays Given many of the unpredictable events of past months, we want to ensure that should a snap decision be made by the State Government

over the vacation period that we have forward planned. Consequently, in preparation for any impending lockdown that may result in home learning, students will be bringing home some textbooks, an exercise book and their pencil case this Friday afternoon. Please don’t be alarmed – we have not been advised that this will occur. We simply wish to ensure that should this arise that the children will have some of their basic materials to complement a learning from home approach developed by our school.

P&C Association Fundraiser in Term 4: COMEDY NIGHT Our P&C Association will be hosting a special Comedy Evening in the School hall as this year’s major fundraiser. To be held on Saturday 23rd October from 7.00pm at a cost of $35 per head, the night will feature comedians from the Sydney & Melbourne Comedy Festivals. Booking details can be found in the flyer towards the end of today’s School Newsletter.

School Swimming Program - due to resume Term 4 Advance notice that our annual Swimming program will resume in our school pool early next term. Swimming classes will be arranged for all students from Prep - Year 6, with all classes participating in 30 minute lesson blocks each week under the direction of HPE teacher Mr Galvin. We’re looking forward to the Learn to Swim & water confidence programs in our own school pool as the warmer weather continues next term. Please be on the lookout for a special Swimming note that will be distributed to your child when we return from the September school holidays. It will outline all swim program requirements, lesson times and needs. A small number of Swimming Instructors are also being employed to assist in the program from Prep & Year 1 classes. Parent Volunteers willing to help out lessons across some of our year levels will also be welcomed.

Year 4 Camp – Reminder of Return of Forms and Camp Payment by tomorrow A reminder to Year 4 families that the return of the Parent Consent/Student Information Form and payment of the balance of $130 is required by tomorrow - THURSDAY 16 SEPTEMBER. Medication Forms A, B and C do not need to be returned until the 1st week back, Thursday 7 October. Please note that if yoru child is needing to bring along medication to the Camp that the FORM A that was previously provided MUST be signed by your family GP and supplied to the school ahead of the Camp.

Student Classwork on display - Year 2R Each week at school one of our classes will take a turn to create their own display wall outside my office where some beaut student work is showcased for all visitors to see. Our thanks this week to Mrs Ryan and the children of 2R for their wonderful display of Information Text writing. We know you can’t see the fine detail in the adjacent photo, so visitors are welcome to drop by to see the work samples that our students are proud to display publicly each week at the office. Well done to Mrs Ryan and the students of 2R this week.

School Security over the Holidays Our school campus remains closed over the designated vacation period and is only to be accessed by authorised persons conducting business at or for the school. Students and supervising staff enrolled for the Vacation Care programs will also be on site. Should you happen to see or learn of unauthorised persons on our school site or disturbing the surrounds during the holidays, please contact one of the following services. Many thanks.

Ph. CK9-SAS Security (Toowoomba) 0408 710 005 Ph. State Govt Security 13 17 88 Ph. Toowoomba Police Link 131 444

BEST WISHES - SCHOOL VACATION School Term 3 ends: Friday 17th Sept, 3.00pm School Term 4 begins: Tuesday 5th October - all classes (Monday 4th October is the Queen’s Birthday Public Holiday)

Thank you one and all for your ongoing support of our school - have a safe and enjoyable 2 weeks with your children. We look forward to the enthusiastic return of all students for the challenges and rewards that lay ahead for the final school term of 2021.

Regards, Craig Barron PRINCIPAL Good Grief Session with Qld Health - see Di P email 13/9

MRSS TERM OVERVIEW / DATE CLAIMERS

TERM 3 - 2021 Thursday 16 Sept School DISCO: 5.00-6.15pm= Prep-Year 2 6.30-8.00pm = Year 3-6

Friday 17 Sept Last day of School Term 3 2.05pm – Year 4-6 Assembly

TERM 4 - 2021

Monday 4th October Queen’s Birthday Public Holiday – School Closed

Tuesday 5th Oct First day of School Term 4 for all Prep-Year 6 students

From the Deputy Principals - Mrs Temple & Mrs Brett

COOL (Care of Others Lives) Awards Class Weekly Awards

Class Weekly Awards

100s Club for 100% Number Facts

Canteen Items On Sale at the DISCO - Thursday Night

⬧ Drinks - $2.00 ⬧ Chips - $1.50 ⬧ Sun Fruits Lollies - $1.00 ⬧ Trolli Lollies - $1.00 ⬧ Clouds and Ears - $0.50 ⬧ Clouds and Ears small packet - $0.25

Chess Team Success On Tuesday 7th September Middle Ridge State School participated in the Toowoomba Primary Schools Annual Teams Chess competiiton at Toowoomba Christian College Highfields. All 4 Middle Ridge Teams acquitted themselves very well. Middle Ridge 1 Novice came 4th in their section while Middle Ridge 1 in the Open Section managed third, which was a fabulous result. This Open team consisting of Ben Forknall, Jonathan Ooi, Kelvin Huang and Aronno Mamun competed again on Saturday 12th September to gain entry into the Queensland Teams Championships in Brisbane. The team managed a 5th place result! Many thanks to the parents who provided transport on both days. All students in both tournaments played and behaved with sportsmanship and respect and were a credit to Middle Ridge State School. Well done all! Chess Coaching will continue in Term 4 for interested students. Many thanks Les Lord for all your great coaching work - the children really appreciate it.

Year One Amaroo Excursion

The day began with great excitement as many Grade One students set out on their first bus ride on the 7th & 8th September for their first school excursion. Fun was had learning some indigenous dance moves, completing a craft using natural items from country and learning about plants used for indigenous food and medicine.

LIBRARY NEWS - Mrs Tina Daley (Library Teacher)

On Tuesday 14 September 2021 we celebrated the joy of reading! Some of our wonderful staff read their favourite stories to the children during the lunchtime break. The children thought it was fabulous and

new friendships were formed as all children from the various year levels took part 😊 Originally launched by Australian libraries and library associations for the National Year of Reading in 2012, the Australian Reading Hour began as an event for all Australians to set aside one hour on one day to read – whatever they wanted, wherever they were located, and however they chose to read.

In last week’s newsletter I gave you 10 benefits of reading every day. Unfortunately, I only listed eight! So, here’s

the other two 😊 Imagination. When reading, you are exposed to so much. This helps your imagination when it comes to creating

and thinking. Reading books from your local library is free entertainment!

LIBRARY BORROWING TIMETABLE MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY

3T 3SH 3R 4W 3FO

1KB 5D 5S 4JY 5RK

6F 1BH 1SB P/1L 6B

2F PWH PW PJ 6C

4B 2P 2W PB 6M

4M 2R 3WO 2V

5I

1M

SPORTING NEWS - Brendan Galvin

PREP – YEAR 2 FUN RUN / CROSS COUNTRY FUNDRAISER

Congratulations to all the Prep – Year 2 students for their wonderful participation in the Cross Country last Friday. The energy and colour of the event was fabulous to experience. There were some very fast performances by the winners and top placed runners so congratulations to these students for demonstrating their fitness and aptitude for longer distance running! Enjoy some of the beaut photos taken of our athletes on the day, on the next page

FUNDRAISING UPDATE

All Cash sponsorship was due to the school office by Tuesday, however if you still have cash deposits please deliver it ASAP so that we can finalise the prize ordering for the school. If your sponsorship was only online donations then all you need to complete is the prize ordering for your individual child. As of Monday the total fundraising effort from Prep-Year 2 was $8222. Thankyou to all families who participated in the fundraising component of this fitness adventure.

TERM 4 CLASS SWIMMING

At this point in time it is expected that class swimming will commence during Weeks 3 and 4 of Term 4 depending on the Class year level and the day on which they swim. It is hoped that we will be able to employ 3 additional Swimming Instructors for Prep Classes and 2 additional Instructors for Yr 1 and 2 classes. These Instructors are employed using funding received through the Sporting Schools Funding Initiative. * Expressions of Interest from suitably qualified Swimming Instructors are being invited within the local and tertiary communities. Should you be interested in being casually (on a paid basis) for a short period during our school swimming program this term, please see the details in the letter toward the end of today’s Newsletter for further information.

The end of term three is almost here! I know our children are looking forward to a well-earned break. You could be wondering, however, how to be sure all your hard work helping your child achieve results at school doesn’t come undone while they’re on holidays. There’s plenty of research that indicates holiday reading is the key to achieving and sustaining educational outcomes! Encourage your child to get some library books this week to ensure they’ve got a

quality reading resource to sustain them on their holiday break 😊

MUSIC Notes - Mrs Laird, Mrs Skinner, Mr Poole & Mr Stockwell

WE MADE IT!!!!: Thank you to all students who have endeavoured to carry on even when events like the eisteddfod and choral workshop were sadly cancelled this term due to the changeable situation with the pandemic. I am so very proud of the character and resilience our students have shown, and their continued commitment to rehearsals. We will continue to update you through the newsletter of any considerations that are being made in light of current restrictions. WELCOME MISS FINDLAY: Please make sure you say hello to Miss Findlay who is doing work experience with Mrs Laird this week. I’m sure she’d appreciate a welcoming smile and some beautiful singing. It’s wonderful to be able to share what our talented students are capable of. CHORAL WORKSHOP: We have a new date scheduled, and fingers crossed, the Senior Vocal Ensemble will be able to meet our friends from Toowoomba East and TAS schools to have a good sing and a small concert for parents next term. Please mark this in your calendars: Thursday 21st October. MUSICAL EVENING: The other date claimer for your attention is the final performance date in our calendar for the year, featuring all choral and instrumental ensembles, and culminating in a massed performance of all involved. Please mark this date in your diary as well: Thursday 18th November. New music is already being prepared by all ensembles, and it is already sounding marvellous!

DATE CLAIMERS: Choral Workshop: Thursday 21st October, 3:15 – 6:45pm Musical Evening: Thursday 18th November 6:00pm – approx.. 8:30pm (All ensembles

INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC

STRING ENSEMBLE WORKSHOP: Congratulations to all String Ensemble members for their achievements last Monday afternoon. Our students had been rehearsing very hard for this event, and it was particularly special to debut a piece written especially for us by Teegan Dowdell, our workshop director on the day. Inviting Gabbinbar’s String Ensemble to share in the event was also very special and we are grateful to Mr Stockwell for preparing all of our players to shine. Thank you to all of the parents and family who were able to come and support us in the audience. It is such a special treat to once again perform for you and share our music making with you all.

A fine work of art – music, dance, painting, story – has the power to silence the chatter in the mind and lift us to another place. ~ Robert McKee

Parents and Citizens Association News

A Message from the P&C President

Hello again!! I hope you are all having a great week so far.

It is hard to imagine we have reached the end of Term 3 already and that the September school holidays begin this Friday afternoon. It was wonderful to see all the families that came out to support their children participating in the Junior Cross Country last Friday although I think some of the Preps might have been a little tired after their stellar performances at the Prep Concert the previous night. The school is running a Disco tomorrow night finishing off what has been a very busy school term with a fun event for the students. Thank you to the teaching staff for organising and running this event supported by the P&C.

P&C Meeting Tonight

Our September P&C meeting will be held tonight Wednesday 15th September at 7.00pm socially distanced in the staff room situated behind the administration building. We will be discussing our recent and upcoming fund-raising activities including the P&C Comedy Night. Remember that new members are always welcome!!!

Installation of Netball Posts

Everything That Glows Stall

The P&C will be running an Everything That Glows Stall at the School Disco being held in the school hall

Tomorrow Night the 16th of September. There will be a number of novelty lights and flashing fashion accessories available

for purchase by students to help add a little colour to their evening. These will provide an alternative to items like glow

sticks which are not allowed to be worn at the disco. Thank you to Tanya Carrol for offering to organise the stall for the

P&C. If you feel you can assist Tanya on the night please contact her on 0439 781 336.

Hot Chip and Dagwood Dog Day

Thank you to all the families that supported the tuckshop Hot Chip and Dagwood Dog Day yesterday. Thank you

to Amanda Ryan and her team of wonderful volunteers for running this Meal Deal for students in the last week of term.

Please note that yesterday was the last tuckshop day for Term 3. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of

the volunteers who have come in and helped out in the tuckshop throughout the term.

At our July P&C meeting it was suggested that some of our Year 1 students who play Netball wanted to know if there was some way they could practise at school. The idea was discussed and investigated further and at our August meeting we decided to purchase and donate to the school a set of Netball posts to be installed in the Junior Playground. The new posts arrived last week and were promptly installed at either end of the artificial grass area adjacent to the Junior Playground. Special thanks to Josh on the P&C for organising the posts and to our great school groundsmen for installing them so quickly for us. Here is Eloise from Year 1 getting in some practise at the end of first break today. I’m sure Eloise and many of her friends will make a lot of use of this new addition to the Junior Playground made possible through our P&C fundraising throughout the year.

Comedy Night Date Claimer

The P&C will be running a Comedy Night on Saturday 23rd October in the Middle Ridge SS hall. The show presented

by Comedy for a Cause and will feature comedians from the Sydney and Melbourne International Comedy Festivals.

The doors will open at 6.00pm and seating will be on a first in best dressed basis with the show starting at 7.00 pm and

running till just after 10.00pm. There will also be refreshments available for sale on the night. See the flyer in today’s

newsletter for more details!!!

Thank You to our MRSS Teacher Aides

The school recently celebrated Teacher Aide appreciation week so on behalf of the P&C I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of the amazing Teacher Aides here at Middle Ridge for the fantastic job you do in supporting our children in classrooms. Your ongoing professionalism in and out of the classroom is appreciated by so many students at the school which was made abundantly clear by the multitude of thank-you notes students created for you all. I know first-hand the amount of work you all put in to providing additional support for teachers and students in the classroom every day no matter what the day presents. Thank you for an amazing job always!!!!

Happy Holidays

On behalf of the P&C I would like to wish all the members of our Middle Ridge school community a happy and safe holiday break. Take Care and see all back soon for the start of Term 4.

Please take the time to read the P&C notices in today’s newsletter. If you have any questions about the P&C please contact us at pandc@middleridgess.eq.edu.au. Thanks!

Graeme McBryde MRSS P&C President

UNIFORM SHOP

Just a reminder of the opening hours for the School Uniform store. Please be advised that Girls dresses are now back in stock. Regards, Joanna Matic

TUCKSHOP

Our Summer Menu will commence in Week 1, Term 4. The menu will be posted on the web page early next term as well as on Flexischool. Thank you all for your support over what has been another amazing term!

Regards, Amanda Ryan Ph: 0419620138

Opening Hours

Monday 8.00am to 8.50am Wednesday 8.00am to 8.50am

Opening Hours

Tuesday - Friday 8.15am to 2.00pm

OUTSIDE SCHOOL HOURS CARE (OSHC) NEWS: Hall-Thorpe Sports

COMMUNITY NEWS: Good Grief ‘Good Grief, This Hurts’ is a free educational webinar to build awareness and skills in supporting a child or young person who has experienced the traumatic death of someone close to them.

The webinar is open to anyone in the community supporting a child or young person impacted by traumatic death and will provide an opportunity to hear from families and professionals as well as offering an engaging panel discussion.

Please save the date in your diary. Program and registration will be shared shortly.

Save the date: Thursday 21st October 2021 Time: 9-11am Location: Online

For more information, please reach out to CHQ_Bereavement@health.qld.gov.au or QuoCCAClinED@health.qld.gov.au

SWIMMING INSTRUCTORS - EXPRESSION OF INTEREST Middle Ridge State School is seeking to employ qualified Learn to Swim Instructors, on a casual basis, for the upcoming Term 4 Swimming Program. Please see below for specific information relating to this role. Role and Responsibilities: Instructors will work under the direction of the Middle Ridge SS HPE Teacher to deliver the Learn To Swim Program to Prep- Year 2 students in class groups.

• You will work as a member of a team of Instructors alongside the PE Teacher and Middle Ridge State School Teacher Aide.

• The overall leadership and supervision of the class is maintained by the PE Teacher.

• Instructors will be responsible for delivering ability-appropriate and sequenced learning experiences to small groups of students. Group formats require the Instructor to work independently to deliver the content.

• Behaviour Management is the responsibility of the PE Teacher. Hours of Work and Rate of Pay: Payment will be at a flat rate of $30 per hour as specified below: ➢ Each Monday commencing Week 4 (Mon 25-10-21) and continuing for 6 weeks from

9.25am – 1.25pm: 4hrs paid (includes lunch break 11.00am-11.40am) ➢ Each Tuesday commencing Week 3 (Tues 19-10-21) and continuing for 6 weeks from

12.15pm-3.00pm: 2.75hrs paid (includes lunch break 1.20pm-1.55pm) Essential Qualifications Interested persons must hold and provide copies of:

• Current Learn to Swim Accreditation from a recognised provider eg. AUSTSWIM

• Current Blue Card Interested persons are encouraged to contact Brendan Galvin via email bgalv3@eq.edu.au or 4687 4222 to gain further information, provide evidence of qualifications and details of any prior experience within the Learn to Swim sector. Brendan Galvin HPE Teacher Middle Ridge State School

Middle Ridge State School 203 Spring Street, Toowoomba. QLD 4350 Email: admin@middleridgess.eq.edu.au Phone: 4687 4222 Web: www.middleridgess.eq.edu.au