A STRONG START

It has been a really strong start to our new school year. As I visit classrooms, I have seen our new and returning students engaged fully in their learning and teachers setting up routines and expectations as they settle their classes into a new school year. I want to also acknowledge all parents/caregivers who continue to support the school through respectful interactions with staff, positivity with their children and their experiences and a measured approach to issues or incidents which might arise over the course of the school year.

Schools are complex places and a microcosm of society. There will be times when things are not going as smoothly as they could. Children get upset with friendship issues, challenges with school work and other incidents which might occur. I know that we all want our children to be happy, however we all know that they will experience a raft of emotions as they learn to navigate life. It is important to keep things in perspective and remember that there will be two sides to every story. I like to use the analogy that ‘if you believe 50% of what your child tells you about the happenings at school (particularly around friendship issues etc) then we will believe 50% of what we hear about what happens at home!’. I am in no way trying to minimise student concerns and issues, however we do know there are many contributing factors in any child’s life that can influence how they are feeling or reacting to a situation. 

We need to always keep at the front of our minds that their brains are developing and therefore they will make impulsive or poor choices, find it difficult to regulate their behaviour and have both successful and challenging days. It’s our role as the adults to regulate our own behaviour and model this by remaining measured and calm in the face of a child’s distress. Often, we can be ruminating over an issue weeks later, when the child has moved on the very next day!  It’s our role to help them navigate and work through their issues, understanding that they will make mistakes and these are the best learning opportunities, whether they be academic, social or emotional. 

Be kind to yourself as a parent. It is the hardest, yet most rewarding role you will ever have. Please rest assured, that as experienced educators, there’s nothing that we haven’t seen or experienced in relation to academic, social or emotional issues. We are here to help and work with you!

John Marsden, an accomplished author of numerous books for children and adolescents and also a school principal recently passed away. Just before this sad event occurred, John gave some sage advice to parents which really resonated with me. I think they’re worthy of sharing with you and I wish I had done more of these when raising my own-

1. Give children space. Back off. Let them roam. Let them be bored. Don’t over plan their lives. Cut way back on the after-school activities.
2. Keep away from all those ghastly, soulless, sterile playgrounds. Keep away from shopping malls. Look for real places. Wild places.
3. Be an ADULT. Say no to your children at least once a day. If the role of adult in your family is vacant, then one of your children will fill it. And it won’t be pretty.
4. Don’t take up all the space. If you are dominating, loud, forceful, your children are likely to become passive, lacking personality and or sullen.
5. Believe about 40% of the dramatic stories your children tell you of the injustices, corruption and poor practices happening at school.
6. Teach them empathy. For example, after the jubilant victory celebrations when they win a sporting match, remind them that their jubilation was only possible because someone else- the losers- have been made to feel awful.
7. Help them develop language skills. Don’t finish their sentences for them. Don’t correct them when they mispronounce a word - they’ll work it out sooner or later. Ask them open ended questions, that need a detailed answer- not just yes/no.
8. Make sure they have regular jobs/duties at home and that those jobs are done to a consistently high standard.
9. Don’t whinge endlessly about the miseries of your adult life. A lot of children are fearful of growing up because their parents paint such a grim picture of the awfulness ahead.
10. Teach them to be very wary of people who absolutely know the absolute truth about absolutely everything! The colour is always grey.

CELEBRATING ACADEMIC SUCCESS

At the end of each semester, we calculate the percentages of students who are achieving a C Standard (at level for their year level) and above. Below are the results we would like to celebrate for our semester two 2024 report cards. This is an excellent achievement, given that statistically, you would find only 85% of the population on average would achieve at or above a C standard. This is well recognised in all standardised testing across the world, including the PISA and TIMMS.    

These results align closely with our year 3& 5 NAPLAN for 2024 as well.

We are confident in our achievement data, given we moderate twice a year across some 17 schools in our City Collective Group and undertake our own rigorous moderation practices within the school, based on the delivery of the Australian Curriculum Version 9. Not all schools across the state undertake moderation with other schools, so there will be variations in results.

We also celebrate our results for students achieving A or B in English and Mathematics, noting that a C Standard means a student is achieving at their year level.

If your child is not achieving at a C level for English and/or Mathematics, we work closely with you as parent/caregiver, in conjunction with our ACCESS Team to look at ways we can provide intervention and support for your child. There can be many factors which contribute to a student finding the work challenging and when we work with you to uncover the reason/s why, we can develop a plan to help them succeed at their own rate. Class teachers make these referrals to the ACCESS team, so if you have concerns regarding your child’s level of achievement as they are below C standard in English and/or Mathematics, please ensure you make an appointment to see them.  

NEW STAFF

Again this year, we have the wonderful opportunity to have new and returning staff join us each year, bringing their experiences to our school.

Teachers:

Courtney Davis- Courtney has been a teacher aide in our school for some time and now having completed her education degree, joins the year one teaching team.

Kate West- Kate is a highly experienced teacher, who joins us from Bracken Ridge SS to teach in the year three team.

Nadia Hirsch- Nadia returns to us from DRT role, to join the year one team

Tahia Sen- Tahia comes to us from Aspley SS to join the year four team.

Phoebe Marsh- Phoebe is also a graduate teacher who will join the year five team.

Laura Sheen- Laura is returning from maternity leave and will join the year four team.

Neil Wickham- Neil joins us as instrumental music teacher and band conductor. He currently services a number of schools on a very large circuit.

Teacher Aides:

Laura Trevor- learning support & general

Lucinda McKeown – general and Inclusion

Kerry Douglas – relief

P&C FUNDING 2025

The P&C in general has been so very supportive of all requests for assistance from the school and community, particularly the funding which once again continues to be outstanding. In total, the P&C raised close to $100 000 this year and will donate this this figure and an additional one-off payment of $50 000 to the school for a variety of resourcing needs in 2025, which will benefit every student in our school. This was passed at the final P&C meeting in November.

We will be undertaking the following programs and resourcing as outlined below-

The executive and members can often be a forgotten entity, working tirelessly behind the scenes to keep all of the sub committees and the budget moving forward to the benefit of all students across the school. Thanks so much to Thomas Rice- President, Leah Beadman- Vice President, Sarah Bassett – Treasurer and Ian Connor- Secretary who make up the executive team.  

Similarly, to the School Advisory Council Members- Julie Rowlinson -Chairperson, Anita Heinrich -Secretary and Staff Rep, Carrie Radzevicius -Parent Rep and Raegan Cooney Staff Rep, for their input and guidance. I have appreciated their counsel over the year and look forward to working with both groups in 2025.

LEADERSHIP POSITIONS AT MILTON STATE SCHOOL 2025

Congratulations ot the following students on their appointment to key leadership roles in 2025.

The formal induction ceremony for all leaders will be held on Friday 21 February at 9:00am in the multipurpose area. Everyone is welcome to attend.

SCHOOL CAPTAINS – Audrey L, Elsie J, Paddy D, Jefferson S

STUDENT COUNCIL CHAIRPERSON-    Olivia B

HOUSE CAPTAINS:

LAVER HOUSE-

Kaito F

Alex E

Caitlin M

Payton L

TURNBULL HOUSE-

Oskar L

Charlie C

Edwina S

Emily G

ANDERSON HOUSE-

Bailey D

Flynn M

Lucy P

Ivy M

OTHER CAPTAINS:

CHOIR-   Isla H

STRINGS- - Divya R

BAND-  Charlotte C

ITALIAN-   Georgia S

CHESS- Kinoli C

THE HIVE- Charlie H/ Tate C/ Evette B

PERFORMING ARTS- Imogen C

ACTIVE TRAVEL- Jessica D/ Quinn L

VISUAL ARTS- Simran G

SUSTAINABILITY CAPTAIN- Rylee M/ Edith N

TUCKSHOP- Imogen R/ Daisy B

STUDENT WELLBEING-   Cian B

STUDENT NEWS -   Felix P/ Dylan A

STUDENT COUNCIL REPS- YR 3-6:

Year 3- Sammy T, Mia K, Liam M & Vivian H

Year 4- Liam C, Jack H, Jimmy S & Evie L

Year 5- Charles M, Anton K & Grace V

Year 6- Tristian T, Sam S & Trixie C

Kind regards,
Paul Zernike
Principal
pzern1@eq.edu.au