2 April 2025

Principal News

Happy Holidays

Congratulations to all our Morningside students for your effort and learning this term. We would also like to thank everyone for your ongoing help, support and commitment to our school. We hope that you all have a fantastic holiday and we look forward to seeing everyone back at school on Tuesday 22 April.

Congratulations

Congratulations to the Flyers Swim Club for another excellent season. Thank you to the committee and all the volunteers who help make this a fantastic club and give our children the opportunity to be their best at swimming each week.

Congratulations also to the winners of this year’s Principal’s Award that was presented at the end of season break up. This year the winners were Hannah M. and Archie D. Well done to these students for their swimming and effort during the season.

Parent / Teacher Interviews

It has been great to see many parents connecting with their child’s class teacher to discuss their child’s learning this term. If you haven’t made time to speak with your child’s class teacher, we encourage you to make contact. Learning outcomes for children can be enhanced by class teachers and parents working together in a positive and productive relationship. We remind parents that your child’s class teacher should always be your first contact if you have any concerns about your child’s learning.

Queensland engagement and welfare (Qew) survey

Our Years 4-6 students will be participating in the QEW survey again this year. Information about the survey will be emailed to parents. Information can also be found at this link.

School ANZAC day assembly

Our school ANZAC day assembly will be held in our school hall on Thursday 24 April at 9am. Parents are welcome to attend.
The organisers of the annual Bulimba community march down Oxford Street on Friday 25 April have invited 10 of our school leaders to march to represent Morningside State School this year. Other members of our school community will be able to participate in the community service at the end of the march at Memorial Park. The service is expected to go from 8am – 8.30am.

School watch

During the school holidays, Look, Listen, Report and help keep our school safe. If you see something suspicious, contact School Watch on 13 17 88 and report any incidents you see or hear, even if they appear to be minor. If it’s an emergency, call triple zero (000).

Have a wonderful last week and see you after the holidays!

Kind Regards,
Sheryl Kennedy
Principal

Deputy News

Harmony Day Wrap Up

It was lovely to see so many students wearing orange and cultural dress at MSS on Monday 24 March. Harmony Week is an amazing celebration that recognises diversity and belonging in our Morningside community. Thank you to our Arts Captains, Digital Media Captains and Sensei Silby for helping to make the day a great success.

Well done to the postcard winners from this year’s postcard competition.

PBL Update

The PBL focus in Weeks 9 and 10 will be:

• Expected behaviours before and after school
• Expectations at break times and assemblies

This term students have averaged 95 postcards per week. Things are looking great for the Semester 1 PBL reward day. Stay tuned for more details in Term 2.

Finally, happy end of Term 1. I hope all our families have a safe and happy holiday.

Adam Gilmore
Deputy Principal

Dates to Remember

Administration

Picking up children during break time or assembly

If you are picking up your child during break time, please advise the office or your child’s teacher beforehand. It can be difficult to locate a student while on the oval or in the play area which may lead to a delay in the student making their way to the office.

Morningside State School break times are:
First break:         10.45am - 11.30am
Second break:   1.30pm – 2.10pm

Also, if you are planning to pick up your child during assembly (Monday afternoons between 2.10pm and 2.50 pm) please advise the office or your child’s teacher beforehand. While students are attending assembly, it may be difficult to find them or get a message through to them.

Communication from the school

We encourage all parents to download and use the QParent App and the Szapp App.

QParent App

This app is a very helpful tool with which you can easily read or download report cards, notify of absences, see outstanding invoices and pay invoices.

Our office staff will be happy to help with the registration process, should you require assistance. 

Szapp App

We are communicating through this app with families and inform about upcoming events, changes or send out reminders.

Student Resource Scheme, Camps and Excursion Payment Reminder

Payment reminder:

Payments can be made as follows:

• Selecting the payment link at the bottom of your invoice
• BPoint - the Bpoint code is 1002534
• QParents
• Direct deposit (BSB 064136, Account 00090111, Account Name Morningside State School) – please note student’s full name
• Credit card payment over phone via a secure BPoint number on 1300 631 073
• Directly at office
• Centrepay – Centrepay is a voluntary bill-paying service which is free for Service Australia customers. Use Centrepay to arrange regular deductions from your Services Australia payment.  You can start or change a deduction at any time. The quickest way to do it is through your Services Australia account online. Go to servicesaustralia.gov.au/Centrepay for more information.

Sports and PE

Term 1 Sports Carnivals

Well done to all of our Prep, Yr1 and Yr2 students who competed in the annual school Junior Fun Run. There were lots of big efforts and points gained which goes towards our school Cross Country shield. We are going to combine these points with results from our senior Cross Country trials early next term. At the moment it is very close!

Current points tally as follows –

Rossiter – 68

Pashen – 65

McConnell – 65

Yr3-6 Cross Country:

Due to cancellations this term we have decided to go ahead at a smaller capacity with Cross Country trials, for students aged 10-12yrs, who wish to compete at the Lytton District Cross Country event which will be held in May. This will be conducted as a smaller scale event and is optional for all students who are aged 10, 11 or 12 this year. Unfortunately, we are unable to involve our 8- and 9-year-old students in this trial as they are ineligible to compete at district Cross Country.

Students have been asked to nominate for this event which is to be held on Wednesday 23^rd April (Week 1 of Term 2). Classes for all other students will go ahead as per normal. Information for those students who have nominated (including a new permission form) will go home this term. The trial will be held at Hawthorne Park and will involve students running the same expected distances for their age groups as has previously been mentioned.

Josh Nolan
Morningside State School
PE Teacher – Sports Coordinator

Environment Club News

MSS is proudly part of the Pollinator Link project

Did you know that we have a dedicated garden space that is part of the Pollinator Link project? This means that our garden space is a support habitat for birds, butterflies and bees as they travel between patches of bushland, which have been fragmented by our urban environment.
Our pollinator link garden is outside B Block (highly appropriate!) and has native flowering plants, a bee hotel, a butterfly puddling station, a nesting box and a bird bath. These elements combine to provide a wonderful habitat for important pollinator species. Last week I was excited to see a pair of rainbow lorikeets enjoying the nectar of our flowering trees, as well as two types of native bee species (including the beautiful blue-banded bee).
The presence of butterflies and bees in our gardens indicates a healthy environment and ecosystem. Both species help to pollinate plants – trees, flowers and crops. Butterflies also help with pest control and are part of the food chain.  Recent decline in the numbers of bees and butterflies results from the loss of habitat, toxic pesticides, climate change and extreme weather affecting their behaviour. You can help to support this important initiative.

How about a crafternoon?

To highlight the importance of our pollinator link garden we have done some yarnbombing with knitted or crocheted bees, butterflies and flowers – all made by members of the school community. We are keen to add some more samples of your handiwork this year, so get that wool out in the school holidays, and see what you can come up with. All contributions will be gratefully accepted at the school office. If you have any questions, please get in touch with me at swetz4@eq.edu.au.

Sharon Wetzig
MSS Sustainability Partner

Chappy News

Dear all,

I've enjoyed being a part of the community at Morningside SS this term and appreciate your support. It is a privilege to work here and support well-being of our students. Wishing you all the best for the Easter season and look forward to seeing you all next term. 

Games Club

First break Wednesdays the Chappy Room (at the Club House) is open to anyone who would like to join our weekly Games club. We have a range of board games for kids to play with and it is a great time to build friendships. We have a range of board games for kids to play with. Some of them are:

• Uno
• Tea Party - a memory match game
• Pizza - fraction game
• A number of Puzzles
• LEGO
• Blippi - practical grammar skills game
• Lynx - board game
• A to Z for kids - word game for kids
• Who is it? - a memory game
• 5 Second Rule - quick thinking and fast-talking game
• 4 in a Row game
• Snakes & Ladders board game

Brekky Club

As school chaplain, with invaluable help of our volunteers, each week we are able to organise a breakfast club for our community at Morningside State School. We are able to provide an opportunity for all our students to receive a free breakfast. A healthy breakfast makes a positive contribution to students' wellbeing and learning. Breakfast club is available each Thursday morning between 8.20am - 8.35am from the side window of the tuckshop.

Additional Support

As school chaplain I am an additional support for the social and emotional needs of our students. Support is provided through games, school excursions, in classrooms, and a variety of other ways.

1800Chaplain

1800Chaplain is a nationwide toll-free service offering confidential chaplaincy support to all Australians. For more information, please see https://1800chaplain.com/. This service is offered by Chaplaincy Australia (https://www.chaplaincyaustralia.com/). 

Get in Touch

If you would like to talk to me some more about how I can support the social and emotional learning or encourage a particular student, please feel free to reach out. My workdays are Wednesday and Thursday. Email: vlavr0@eq.edu.au.

Chappy Vlad

P&C News

Morningside Flyers Swimming Club

We were thrilled to host our final season race event, our Club Championships on Sunday 23rd March. Our swimmers were an absolute credit to the club on the day. Everyone did a stellar job both in and out of the pool. It was so great to see everyone from some of our youngest 12.5m swimmers participating in their first carnival, to our eldest most experienced seniors, putting their best efforts in on the day. Whether they got a medal or a PB, or just did their best on the day, all our swimmers should be so proud of their season. 
We were also delighted on this occasion to be able to present our newest club life members, Jenni and Sue, with their badges and have them present some of our swimmers with their medals. It was an honour to be able to acknowledge and thank them for their immense contributions over the years to the Morningside Flyers. Thank you, Jenni and Sue. We also thank Mrs Kennedy for being with us for part of the day! 

Our Presentation Celebration was held on Sunday 30th March and it was an absolute pleasure to see our swimmers receive their season acknowledgments and special awards, in a lovely relaxed event away from the pool. Stay tuned for more details on our winners in the next newsletter, but we would like to specifically acknowledge Hannah M and Archie D, our recipients of the Morningside State School Principals Award, acknowledging their spirit and citizenship, irrespective of achievement and for making an outstanding contribution to the club. Well done on your achievement!

We hope to see many returning and new swimmers later in the year for the 2025/26 season.

Jasmine Kelly

Mother’s Day Breakfast - Save the date - 9th May

Natalie Van Opdenbosch
Treasurer P&C MSS

OSHC News

Week 7 was full of fun and engaging outdoor activities after a week of wild wet-weather.

OSHC kids have been enjoying process art this week where they follow steps to build an artwork using an array of different methods and materials. This kind of activity is also popular as it provides children with many opportunities to stretch their creative muscles. After the weather events of the last week children were eager to participate in our Wellbeing Club, where the children made a craft resource to teach about mindful breathing techniques (the “smell the flowers, blow out the candles” breathing strategy) as a part of their toolbelt of calming strategies. The activity opened up conversations with the children where they shared other strategies for helping manage big emotions. We had a lot of help in the kitchen this week from the children to help with baking, preparing ingredients and mixing! On the menu last week, we discovered some new favourites for afternoon snacks. The roasted zucchini and garlic dip with toasted bagel bites were surprisingly an all-round favourite. Whilst the children were hesitant to try the dip at first because of its green colour, after being encouraged to give it a try, they all agreed it was one of the tastiest dips ever! Keep an eye out on our Instagram for the recipe!

Morningside State School - Outside School Hours Care
oshc@msspandc.com.au
0403 631 230

Tuckshop

Please make sure that you have updated your students' class on QKR. Also, if you need to cancel your child’s lunch this must be done before 7am by the parents.

We are looking for volunteers to help with the tuckshop please. If you are available and would like to support our amazing tuckshop team, please get in touch with June Burfoot june.burfoot@msspandc.com.au.

Thanks and hope you have an amazing day

June Burfoot
Convenor

Community News

Shake N Stir

Hampton Swim School

Get Ready for Our Easter School Holiday Swim Clinics! Still time to Book.🏊‍♂️

Looking for a fun and active way to keep the kids happy and fit this Easter holidays? Look no further than Hampton Swim School! Our full-day swim clinics (9am - 3pm) are designed for kids aged 6 and up who can swim 10 - 15 meters. It’s the perfect opportunity to improve swimming skills, build confidence, and have a blast with friends! 🤩

Our School Holiday Swim Clinics are tailored for both learn-to-swim and squad swimmers, with a focus on specific strokes each day. With a maximum of 20 swimmers per day, your child will receive plenty of personalized attention and guidance from our expert instructors. 🏊‍♀️
Special Offer: Get discounted rates when booking 2 or more days!

For all the details, including pricing and what to expect, click the links below:
👉 School Holiday Swim Clinics Information
👉 Book Your Spot Today
We can't wait to see your child make a splash with us this Easter! 🌊

Lucy Collier

School holiday activities

Tennis for kids

TENNIS HOT SHOTS – ENROLMENTS NOW OPEN FOR TERM 2 2025!

Enrolments are now open for term 2 tennis coaching. 

ENROL ONLINE at www.tennisforkids.com.au  

PRIVATE AND SEMI-PRIVATE LESSONS ARE ALSO AVAILABLE ON REQUEST

Should you have any questions please contact Tennis for Kids on info@tennisforkids.com.au or 0408 187 741. 

ALL NEW CHILDREN ENROLLING IN TERM 2 WILL RECEIVE A FREE JUNIOR TENNIS RACQUET!

Tennis For Kids is a FairPlay activity provider and therefore can accept Government FairPlay Vouchers  - www.qld.gov.au/fairplayvouchers  . 

EASTER SCHOOL HOLIDAY TENNIS COACHING CLINICS

Enrolments are now open for the Easter School Holiday Tennis Clinics as well as special discounted holiday private coaching sessions. 

Positions are available for all school students between the ages of 4-15 years but please note timings will differ depending upon your child's age and experience.  Children from all schools are invited to attend any clinic.

For further details or to enrol, please click this link https://tennisforkids.com.au/holiday-programs/programs/

Cannon Hill Community Centre

Morningside Panthers

Bunnings - Free Easter family night