19 June 2025

From the Principal – Liam Hackwood

As your proud Principal, I continue to be inspired by the incredible enthusiasm and involvement of our students in extracurricular activities this semester. Whether it's through sport like our amazing athletes at the Senior Athletics Day last Friday; music like our awesome instrumental students that performed during the week; drama like our students getting ready for the Musical; or drone challenges like our students who are busy preparing for their exciting event in the last week of school; our students are showing what it means to be confident, engaged learners. These activities provide valuable opportunities for students to explore their interests, develop new skills, and build strong friendships. It has been a real highlight to see their faces light up as they try something new or represent our school with pride. I want to thank our staff who go above and beyond to facilitate these opportunities, and to our families for your ongoing support. Our school is richer because of the contributions and spirit of our students, staff, and community. We are ending the semester on a high, and I couldn’t be prouder.

Report Cards for Semester 1

Semester 1 report cards will be sent home on Friday of Week 1, Term 3, and we encourage families to take the time to go through them together. These reports provide a summary of your child’s academic achievement, effort, and behaviour across each subject area. They also offer insight into how your child is progressing with key learning goals and social development. We know how important it is to acknowledge successes and also to identify areas for growth, and we encourage open conversations at home. If you have any concerns or would like to meet with your child’s teacher to discuss their progress further, our Parent/Teacher interviews will be held in Week 5 of Term 3. Your support and involvement make a significant difference in your child’s learning journey. Let’s continue working together to help every student thrive.

Save the Date! Academic Awards for Semester 1

Please mark your calendars for our Academic Awards Ceremony on Friday, Week 3 – 1 August, where we will celebrate our students’ academic excellence and consistent effort throughout Semester 1. The ceremony for Year 1 to Year 3 will be held at 9:15am, and the ceremony for Years 4 to 6 will take place at 12:00pm. These events are a fantastic opportunity to recognise students who have demonstrated outstanding commitment to their learning. Invitations will be emailed directly to the families of award recipients by me. We hope you can join us for what is always a special and uplifting occasion. Celebrating academic success is a core part of our school culture, and we look forward to acknowledging the hard work of our students. While not all students will be receiving awards this semester, we will try to provide as much notice as possible for you all.

End of Semester Events

We have a fantastic line-up of events to celebrate the end of this term, and we warmly invite families to come along and be part of the fun. On June 25, we kick things off with the Prep to Year 1 MESS Athletics Day, where our youngest students will showcase their energy and enthusiasm. Then on June 26, it's the turn of our Years 2–3 students to hit the track and field for their athletics day. On June 27, we will host our Gymnastics and Red Dance performances in the morning – at 9:15am for our Prep – Year 2 students and then again at approximately 10:00am. What a great way to finish the semester! These performances are always a highlight of the term, giving students the chance to demonstrate what they’ve learned in their specialist programs. We look forward to seeing many of you there to celebrate the incredible talents and efforts of our students.

SRS Feedback from P&C Meeting

Thank you to all the families who attended our June P&C Meeting and contributed to the discussion around the Student Resource Scheme (SRS). We received very positive feedback about returning to the previous model, which reduces overall costs to parents and removes the need for a booklist. Many families expressed relief at having a simpler and more affordable process that ensures all students have consistent and high-quality resources. The P&C has supported this direction, and we will proceed with plans to implement it for the next school year. Of course, we will continue to offer flexibility for families who prefer to manage their own booklists if they wish. Your input has been invaluable in shaping our approach moving forward. We appreciate your continued partnership in helping make our school the best it can be. More information will be coming out about this as we start preparing for 2026.

School Holiday Dates

The end of Term 2 is fast approaching, with the last day of school being Friday 27 June. The school holidays will run from Saturday 28 June to Sunday 13 July, with Term 3 commencing on Monday 14 July. We hope all our students and families enjoy a well-earned break, filled with rest, fun, and time together. For families needing care during the holiday period, Camp Australia's Rocketeers Holiday Program will be running right here at school. This program offers a variety of engaging and exciting activities for students during the holidays. As always, we encourage our community to help us keep the school safe and secure over the break. If you notice anything unusual on school grounds, please contact School Watch on 13 17 88. Your vigilance helps protect our facilities and ensures a safe return for everyone at the start of the new term.

Parking and Road Safety Reminder

A reminder to all families to please take extra care when parking and driving around Glenwood Drive and Graham Road, especially during busy drop-off and pick-up times. It is vital that we all follow road rules, park only in designated areas, and avoid stopping in the drop-off zones to keep everyone safe. The safety of our students is our top priority, and your cooperation plays a key role in creating a secure environment for all. Recently, Moreton Bay Regional Council Rangers have been in the area to help monitor traffic and support compliance with local parking regulations. Their presence is aimed at encouraging safe behaviour and ensuring our school community remains hazard-free. Thank you for your ongoing support and care in keeping our school surroundings safe for all families.

2025 has been a massive year for our school so far and we are only just ramping up as we get ready for another semester for a bumper 2025.

Yours in Learning,

Deputy News Prep – Natalie Arthur

Final two weeks of Term 2 are here.

It’s been a busy and exciting term of learning for our Prep students and they are now working hard to show what they know and can do during our assessment phase of the term. All we expect is that our students have a go and do their best.

To support your child with their final two weeks of school, it may be helpful to reduce screen time and encourage an early bedtime routine. This is not too difficult now as it’s dark by 5:10pm!

Your child’s first report will be emailed to parents and carers early in Term 3. If you have recently changed your email address, please contact our office staff to update this record.

This first semester of ‘big school’ is a BIG step in your child’s school journey, and working together as a school and home team is incredibly important. As the final two weeks unroll, I’d like to thank all parents and carers for the wonderful support you have shown our Prep team this semester. 

Reading Detective Awards

Detective Arthur visited Prep classrooms last week to hand out Reading Detective Awards. Students are being awarded for their efforts in sounding out CVC words when reading and for demonstrating their early reading skills. Congratulations to our award winners!

I wish all families a lovely winter break and look forward to welcoming you back for Term 3 on Monday 14 July.

Promoting Literacy Development – PLD

Our Prep team is working hard to support our students with the development of their literacy skills through our PLD program and classroom learning.

PLDs circular graphic represents the importance of the interlocking skills of Literacy, Oral Language and Movement & Motor in children’s academic success. Over the course of a school year children will develop literacy skills. Their vocabulary will grow along with their ability to express themselves and follow instructions. Their fine and gross motor skills will improve and their letter formation and writing skills will develop.

Upcoming events in our Prep calendar

June 25                                   Prep - 2 MESS Athletics Carnival
June 27                                   Last day of school for Term 2

Prep 2026 Enrolments are underway

If you have a child born between 1 July 2020 and 30 June 2021 then they are eligible for Prep in 2026.

To enrol, please contact our office staff and request an enrolment pack. Our staff can also book your enrolment interview. Details of our Prep 2026 Enrolment and Orientation Program are below.

News from Prep B with Mrs Pfister

It has been a busy term in Prep B. We have been learning how to sound out words, write sentences using a capital letter and full stop and draw pictures to match our writing.

They have also learnt that when they work together as a team, they can create great things, just like this chair fit for a king.

Prep B love having fun with their friends while learning.

News from Prep A with Mrs Kay

Two weeks left of another busy but successful term! We have been learning about farm animals, the weather, celebrations and how to keep healthy. In Literacy we’ve been working hard on blending words to increase our reading fluence, writing sentences about the animals we have learnt about and of course remembering that a good sentence needs capital letters, finger spaces and full stops. Learning that numbers are made up of smaller numbers can be a little tricky, but the preppies have done a great job working on par-part whole and are reaping the rewards. Well done Prep A on another BRILLIANT term!

Prep E news

As we are looking towards a well-earned break, we look back at some of the exciting things that we experienced in Term 2. Our highlight had to be our very first Prep excursion to White Ridge Farm. We got to leave school, go on a bus and visit, learn about and pet some very cute farm animals. There were so many highlights on the day and so many animals to pet. To continue from this, we learnt about various farm animals in class too, creating some great art to complement our learning.

Let’s not forget about sharing an afternoon pamper session with our special parent/carer for our Mother’s Day afternoon tea. We enjoyed decorating biscuits to share, painting nails and showing off our creations to spoil our mums.  I think we have earned our break and look forward to the new adventures waiting in Term 3.

Deputy News Years 1 & 2 Team

1A

This Term Year 1 have been learning how to write and create an information text on a familiar topic. The students have shown lots of enthusiasm and interest when learning about different animals. The animals we are focusing on are: Sea Turtles, Koalas, Butterflies and Dingoes. We have spoken about each animals’ habitat, diet, appearance and an interesting fact. The students have been writing great sentences each week and improving their work with feedback from their teachers.

1C

Our clever Year 1 students have been working super hard this term on information texts.

They have been exploring a range of familiar animals and have learned to identify information about an animal's appearance, their habitat, their diet, and also any interesting facts they thought were notable. 

Not only have they learned how to identify real facts and develop their sentence structure, but they have turned their writing into a beautiful informative poster with relevant images and drawings. Well done Year 1!

2B

Year 2 classes have been exploring materials, as well as the concepts of push and pull, through a focus on simple machines and the design process. Students in 2B were the first to complete their STEM project. They had the opportunity to design and create their own toys, provided they included a simple machine or demonstrated push or pull movement. Their creative designs included paddle boats, peg cars, bottle planes, and paddle pop stick cars. A fantastic effort by all – well done!

Deputy News Years 3 & 4 – Sue Clifton

Welcome to the final newsletter for Term 2. What a busy, yet eventful term it has been.

Next term also has some exciting things happening with our year 3 students undertaking swimming lessons, an excursion to Wildlings Forest School and Rick Rosser’s Cultural activity day. Our year 4 students have an excursion to Opsrey House. Across the school we will celebrate NAIDOC week when we return, as well as our Celebration of Learning assembly.

Line up change for year 3

This week our year 3 students started their new line up process. Of a morning, students still have the option to attend Walking Club on the oval or go to Breakfast club and get something to eat. If they are not doing either of these, they go to the red undercover area, which is supervised by a staff member. Students have been asked to keep their bags with them of a morning and not go to the classroom area before school. When the first bell goes, students move to the red undercover area from Walking or Breakfast Club and sit in their class rows until teachers arrive. There will be a reward this week every day for the class that is ready, sitting and waiting quietly. This means that EVERY student needs to be in the line by the time the 2^nd bell goes. I am asking parents to support this new process of a morning by bringing your child to the red undercover area, and not to wait out the front of the class block. Children who sit with their parents on the edge seats will be asked to join their class rows once the bell has gone.

The year 4 students have been doing a magnificent job of lining up each morning and after each break in the blue undercover area and are earning points for an end of term surprise.

Sports Day

Sports Day for our years 4-6 was held last Friday. What a sea of colours, lots of screaming and cheering for friends and teammates and points for each house awarded for all students who participated in the events, races and other novelty games.  Here are some action shots of our year 4 students.

Year 2 First Nations students participated in the Traditional Aboriginal Games program this term. The program relies heavily on showing how the ways of the past can successfully frame contemporary health choices, while providing cultural and contextual learning. Students completed their Deadly Choices activity scrapbook and engaged in Traditional outdoor games.

Year 4 First Nations students participated in the Junior Tobacco program this term. Education and entertainment are the focus to ensure key preventative health messages are delivered. They have been watching and discussing the educational video “Smokey Joe”.

Murri Club provides students with a weekly opportunity to build upon their knowledge of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island culture and traditional practices through play-based learning.  During lunch time activities, students have used water colours to complete artwork sheets whilst learning about important dates such as Sorry Day and Reconciliation Week. They have also enjoyed playing with new building games in the room and using sensory dough and sand to create Aboriginal symbols.

Our Murri dance troupe were showstoppers at the Under 8's Day at school. Dancers were set up under the jacaranda tree in the prep area where they performed 3 times throughout the event. Students and visiting families stopped to enjoy the show and were given the opportunity to participate.

Year 3

In 3C, students have been finalising their English informative reports on their chosen Australian animal. They have used their fantastic knowledge of the animal to create amazing, colourful, and creative posters showcasing all the interesting facts they’ve learned.

In Mathematics, they have been learning to use array strategies to help them solve multiplication problems. Students have used counters to support their understanding of arrays and help visualise the groups.  Multiplication grids have been used to double-check their answers and build confidence in their calculations.

This term, 3D has been working diligently on crafting informative texts using the information report structure. Throughout the unit, students have explored a range of animal-themed texts, learning about habitats, diets, predators and other fascinating facts. They gathered notes and applied their understanding to create their own informative texts, incorporating compound sentences and descriptive noun groups to enhance their writing. Students took great pride in turning their work into vibrant posters. Mr McCarthy is extremely proud of the effort and enthusiasm all students have shown and is excited to continue the learning journey next term.

Year 4

In 4C, students have been working hard on their Number Maths assessment. This covered concepts such as odd and even numbers, adding, subtracting, multiplying, dividing, and rounding. In Year 4, this includes numbers up to 10,000 and requires that they use these skills in combination. For example, they needed to use rounding to explain whether the answer they got on a question was reasonable or not.

4D students have been making a splash in learning and have become passionate water conservationists, researching and writing informative texts to spread the message about saving this precious resource.

In maths, students have been diving into new concepts, exploring the exciting world of multiplication and division, and sharpening our skills in estimating and rounding.

It has been a productive time in 4D. Mrs Maltby-Thomas and Mrs Raynor are proud of the perseverance shown by all students during this busy time.

Wishing you all a safe holiday. I look forward to seeing you all again next term and sharing more wonderful learning from our students.

It’s been a busy and productive time in year 4! While students have been focused on completing assessments, Mrs Croft, the year 4 Diverse Learning Teacher has been working hard to support smooth and successful transitions into class each day, helping students start their learning with a positive mindset.

As part of this focus, she has introduced a new initiative called “Dob in a Mate.” This gives students the opportunity to recognise and celebrate their peers for doing something extraordinary. Mrs Croft and the year 4 teachers have loved hearing stories of students helping others when they’re hurt, demonstrating active learning in the classroom, and showing great teamwork during lunchtime sports.

It’s been a fantastic way to acknowledge the many positive behaviours we see every day. Well done to all students in year 4 – we are proud

Sue Clifton

Deputy News Years 5 & 6 – Karen Herburg

Welcome to Week 9, Term 2!  As we approach the end of the term, we want to take a moment to acknowledge just how busy and productive this period has been for everyone. Our students and teachers have been working incredibly hard, especially with the recent round of assessments. These assessments have provided valuable insights into each student’s learning journey, helping to celebrate their progress and identify areas for growth. We’re so proud of the dedication and effort shown by both students and staff, and your commitment to learning and teaching continues to inspire us all!

Year 5 & 6 Laptops for Learning

This term has seen the introduction of one-to-one laptops for each student in every Year 5 and Year 6 class.  Using laptops in learning empowers students to actively engage with digital tools and resources, enhancing both their understanding and creativity. Laptops allow for interactive lessons, easy access to research, and collaboration with peers; skills that are essential in today’s technology-driven world. By integrating laptops into their education, students not only deepen their knowledge but also develop critical thinking and digital literacy skills that prepare them for future success.  I have been really impressed with how these are being using in this way for learning in the classroom, as well as students for looking after these devices that have been a game changer in student learning.

Year 5 & 6 Sports Day

There was something truly heartwarming about the school sports day this year.  It was a day bursting with energy, team spirit, and the kind of joyful chaos that only kids can create. From the first race to the final cheer, the students showed incredible enthusiasm and sportsmanship. It wasn’t just about who won or lost; it was about everyone showing up, trying their best, and lifting each other up along the way.

A huge thank you to our PE teachers Mr McEvoy and Mrs Clyne, whose tireless planning and passion turned the day into a smooth, exciting, and inclusive event for all. Their attention to detail, encouragement of every student, and ability to keep things running like clockwork made the carnival not just a success, but a memory the kids will treasure. It was more than just a day of sport — it was a celebration of community, fun, and heart.  Well done to you all😊

Year 5 & 6 Japanese Immersion Day

Students in Year 5 and Year 6 are in for an exciting cultural experience during our upcoming Japanese Immersion Days with Sensei Fraser! On Tuesday 17 June 2025, Year 5 students will dive into the rich traditions and vibrant customs of Japan through engaging activities, language sessions, and hands-on learning. Then, on Thursday 19 June 2025, it's Year 6's turn to explore Japanese culture in a fun and interactive way. These special days are a wonderful opportunity for students to deepen their appreciation of Japan and enhance their language skills while having a great time with their peers. We look forward to celebrating Japanese culture together!

Year 5 Camp

A reminder to all parents and carers that our first ever Year 5 Camp is happening this year.  Year 5 students will be participating in a 3-day camp at the Apex Queensland Youth Camp, Twin Waters.  The aim of the camp is to engage our students in a range of activities and challenges, that build their social skills, foster teamwork, resilience, and a love for the outdoors.  We are looking forward to sharing this amazing time with our students.  If you don't already have a camp note, copies are available from the office.  The dates of camp are Monday 8 September to Wednesday 10^th September 2025.

Year 5 students preparing for Year 6 leadership roles in 2026

As we look ahead to 2026, our Year 5 students will be encouraged to consider applying for Year 6 leadership positions. This is an excellent opportunity to develop skills in responsibility, communication, and teamwork. Staff members have already begun observing students' behaviours and interactions to identify those who consistently demonstrate leadership qualities such as respect, initiative, and collaboration. These observations will play a significant role in the selection process for next year's leadership roles. We encourage all Year 5 students to continue showcasing these qualities and to express their interest in leadership positions as the application process approaches.

Come dressed in your PJ’s!

On Thursday 19 June 2025, staff and students are invited to join in the fun and comfort of Dress Up PJ Day, proudly organised by our Student Council! Everyone is encouraged to come to school dressed in their favourite pyjamas for a cozy day of community spirit and togetherness. We also ask participants to bring a gold coin donation to support a meaningful cause chosen by the Student Council. It’s a wonderful way to relax, have fun, and make a positive impact—can’t wait to see all the creative PJ outfits!

Classrooms in the Spotlight!

6D update from Mrs Storey

Students in 6D have been working hard to finalise their end-of-term assessments, showing great focus and determination across all subjects. Last week, they gave it their all at the school sports carnival, showing fantastic team spirit and cheering each other on.  On Thursday students will participate in our Japanese Immersion Day — a wonderful opportunity for students to explore Japanese culture, language and traditions in a hands-on and engaging way! Excitement is now building as we look forward to the June/July school holidays and a well-deserved break.

6E update from Mrs Connell

Our years 5 and 6 netball teams were fierce competitors and absolute delights to take to gala days.  A big congratulations to the Junior team who won 11 out of 12 games.  The Captains for our 2 senior teams and 1 junior team:  Brooke White, Eden Sheppard and Losehina Tapuosi, made sure all the players were warmed up and ready, rotated positions fairly and that all players were on court ready at the time of play.  Congratulations to all 3 teams.

Finally, as this is the last newsletter for the term, I want to wish everyone a safe and relaxing holiday break.  I look forward to seeing you all in Term 3, what is shaping up to be another very busy term for our staff and students.

Until next time …… 😊

Date Claimers

Student Engagement – Christie Bowler

LEAP UPDATE

Mr Watt has been enjoying sometime in the sun and I (Christy Bowler) have been holding the fort in LEAP whilst he has been away.

Over the last fortnight, we have continued to transition the students that are returning to their original classes. Many of the students have taken their new skills and are returning to their classes with confidence and seeing themselves as learners. They are spending the morning session in their classrooms and next week, they will be spending first and middle session with their classes. All students have continued to visit their classes on Wednesday afternoon.

We have new students commencing in Semester 2 and some students continuing from Semester 1. These students will come and meet their new teachers and new classmates next week upon Mr Watt’s return.

The students are continuing to complete their English and Maths assessments for this semester.

Walking Club updates

Congratulations to the Walking Club participants that show up every morning. It has been so lovely to see so many smiling faces in the morning and welcome to the parents that have been joining in. Please come down and participate if you have the opportunity, because it is a beautiful way to start the day.

Can you please remind your students to follow the track lines to ensure they are completing whole laps; not cutting corners.

Keep up the good work to walk those laps to be in the running for a prize at the end of term.

P&C News

Hello, Morayfield East Families and Friends!

End of Term Two is upon us! The P&C would like to extend a huge thank you to everyone who was involved in helping and supporting the P&C this term. If you missed out, don’t worry, there will be plenty of opportunities to come together with your families and school community in the future!

P&C Fundraising Subcommittee: The subcommittee held their first successful meeting this term. The goal of the Subcommittee is to focus on planning, organising and executing fundraising efforts to support the goals the P&C has. You don’t need to be a member of the P&C to attend. If you would like more information or have any ideas for fundraising heading into the next meeting, please don’t hesitate to send an email to fundmess@outlook.com. The next meeting will be held on Monday the 14 July, 5:30pm at Café 63 Morayfield. We look forward to seeing you there!

We are always open to hearing the school communities’ feedback and recommendations when it comes to any events we hold. So, a huge thank you to all who filled in the recent survey around the discos!

As always, keep an eye out for future events and if you would like to get involved, we’d love you hear from you so drop us an email at pandc@morayfieldeastss.eq.edu.au.

Our next meeting will be on Monday 21 July at 3:15pm in the conference room in the school hall. All are welcome to attend, including your kids. These meetings are a great way to understand what is happening and connect in with other parents who are passionate about the school and its community.

Warm Regards,
The MESS P&C

Camp Australia News

News from the Health Room

Community News

NAIDOC Assembly

June/July Holiday Workshops