2025 Term 2 - Week 4

From the Principal's Desk

Hello Mudgeeraba Creek Community,

As part of our ongoing strategic planning, we recently participated in a School Review conducted over four days. We welcomed a review team made up of Jenny Watson (Lead Reviewer), Andrew Walker (Peer Reviewer), and Paul Herschell (External Reviewer), who spoke with 164 members of our community – including staff, students, parents, and community partners.

The review team were extremely impressed by our school and praised the strength of our school culture. They commended:

• Our dedicated staff who not only demonstrate expert curriculum knowledge but consistently go above and beyond in their care for students.
• The engagement and enthusiasm of our students due to the manner in which our school plans and delivers a connected curriculum.
• Our supportive and connected parent and community partnerships.
• The strong collegiality among staff, which fosters ongoing learning and collaboration.

Our transition practices, both into and beyond our school, were also highlighted as exemplary.

We sincerely thank the review team and the many members of our community who took part in the process. Your voice and input are invaluable. We look forward to sharing the Executive Summary of the review on our school website in approximately three weeks.

Importantly, the recommendations made reflect the current direction of our school. These include refining roles and responsibilities in our strategic planning, strengthening the way we use data across the school, continuing to deepen our differentiation practices, and further embedding our whole-school approach to the teaching of reading.

Next week is shaping up to be another exciting time in our school calendar, filled with rich learning experiences, celebrations of community, and recognition of student leadership.

We are thrilled to be celebrating Under 8s Day next Thursday! This much-loved event is a highlight for our younger learners, filled with play-based activities that support creativity, collaboration, and connection. Our staff have been working hard to plan a magical day of fun and learning. We look forward to welcoming families on site to share in the joy and excitement.

On Wednesday we will be joining thousands of schools across Australia for National Simultaneous Storytime. This year’s book, "The Truck Cat" by Deborah Frenkel, will be read aloud to the junior school when we gather together in the hall, celebrating the joy of reading and the power of storytelling. It's always a wonderful reminder of how stories can bring us together.

Our Year 6 student leaders will be attending the GRIP Leadership Conference next Friday. This is a fantastic opportunity for our captains to connect with student leaders from across the region and build on their skills in teamwork, integrity, and initiative. We’re proud of the leadership our Year 6 students demonstrate every day and look forward to seeing how this experience further shapes their journey.

As a means of a notice to include a date saver in your calendar, our Parent-Teacher Meetings are scheduled to take place in Week 10 of Term 2. In coming weeks there will be further information sent to your inbox including the link to the online booking system.

You may have seen some articles and reports in the media regarding the Department of Education’s development of a state-wide resource that outlines shared expectations around what, how and when schools and families communicate. The resource is designed to help foster mutual understanding and proactive collaboration. The Queensland Department of Education's refreshed expectations for how state school staff communicate with families. These expectations are designed to ensure that communication between schools and parents is:

• Respectful
• Clear and timely
• Solution-focused
• Professional at all times

At Mudgeeraba Creek, we value the strong relationships we have with our parent community. We are committed to upholding these principles in all interactions to ensure that, together, we can provide the best possible outcomes for our students.

To learn more, we encourage families to view the Department’s communication expectations here:
🔗 Working together: expectations for communicating with Queensland state schools

Thank you for your continued support in making Mudgeeraba Creek a school of excellence, connection, and care.

Warm regards
Ben
Ben Morris - Principal 

Senior School

School Leadership Team

I would like to acknowledge the work that our senior school leadership team have been doing over the last few weeks. Leaders went through some Playground Program training and have had a few opportunities, due to the wet weather, to run the program with our junior school students. The comments from the students and staff on duty was very positive. Not only were the junior students enjoying themselves, our leaders also had large smiles on their faces. Next week the team will be heading off to a Student Leadership Conference down at Twin Towns in Coolangatta. This conference will inspire our student leadership team and give them more leadership skills to assist them in leading our wonderful student body here at The Creek.

5N Winners of the first Active School Travel Trophy

The faces of the 5N class say it all. They were very excited to be awarded as the first ever class winners of the Active School Travel Trophy. Every fortnight our student leaders survey students from Prep to Year 6 on what form of transport they used to get to school. 5N had the most students who travelled actively to school. Well done 5N!

MCSS District Cross Country Team

I am very proud to say that our senior students performed very well at this week District Schools Cross Country event. Not only did our students run fast they once again demonstrated our school values of being respectful to all other competitors and to each other. A special mention to Austin Harris in 4D who came 11^th in his age group. Austin will be competing at the South Coast Regional Cross Country Event in the coming weeks.

Warm regards
Tim Thompson
Deputy Principal

Junior School

2026 Prep Enrolments

If you have a child starting Prep in 2026, please email our Enrolment Officer, Rachel Dever enrolment@mudgeerabacreekss.eq.edu.au to ensure that we have you included in all our communications as we get set for Prep.  We have a number of events and opportunities planned throughout the year.   

Under Eight's Day: Prep-Yr 2

We are looking forward to celebrating Under Eights Day with families on Thursday 22 May.  Activities will be set up around our Junior School classrooms for families to join in and enjoy. Younger siblings (under school age) are most welcome to attend as well. 

The day will include a CAKE STALL and SAUSAGE SIZZLE (please see information below regarding cake stall donations/purchases and P-Yr2 sausage sizzle order form).  All money and order forms must be handed to the Tuckshop by 2pm on Monday 19^th May.  Alternatively, you can order and pay online at http://flexischools.com.au/ up until 9am on Tuesday 20^th May.

Don’t forget to send your child with a small amount of money on the day, as students are able to purchase a treat from the cake stall.

We hope you can join us. 

Warm regards
Lesley Dekker
Deputy Principal

IDEAS

The Power of Routine: Helping Children Thrive at School

A strong, consistent routine at home plays a vital role in supporting children’s learning and wellbeing at school. As parents and caregivers, there are many ways we can help set our children up for success — and it all starts with the structure of their daily lives.

The Importance of Structure and Routine

Children feel safe and secure when they know what to expect. Predictable routines give them a sense of control over their environment, reduce anxiety, and build confidence. This calm foundation is key to helping children arrive at school feeling ready to learn, engage, and grow.

Sleep Matters: The Bedtime Routine

Sleep is one of the most important building blocks for learning and emotional regulation. Children aged 5–12 years typically need 9–11 hours of sleep per night. A consistent bedtime routine helps their bodies and minds wind down, making it easier to fall asleep and stay asleep. Some helpful bedtime tips include:

• Turning off screens at least an hour before bed
• Having a warm bath or shower
• Reading a book together or listening to quiet music
• Keeping bedtime and wake-up times consistent — even on weekends

A good night’s sleep leads to better concentration, improved mood, and greater resilience during the school day.

Time to Play and Unwind After School

After a busy day of learning, children benefit from some unstructured playtime. This allows them to process their day, relax, and recharge. Whether it’s riding a bike, building with blocks, drawing, or just playing outside with friends or siblings, this free play encourages creativity, physical movement, and emotional release.

Fuel for Learning: A Healthy Diet

What children eat has a big impact on their ability to focus and stay energised throughout the day. A balanced diet full of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and plenty of water helps fuel both the brain and the body. Try to avoid too many processed foods, sugary snacks, or energy drinks, which can lead to energy crashes and difficulty concentrating. A nutritious breakfast is especially important to kick-start the day.

Don’t Forget “Free Time”

In today’s busy world, it’s easy to fall into the trap of overscheduling. Between sports, music lessons, homework, tutoring, and other activities, children can quickly become overwhelmed. While extracurricular activities are valuable, it's just as important to leave room for down time. Unstructured “free time” allows children to rest, explore their own interests, and simply enjoy being kids.

Overscheduling can lead to fatigue, stress, and burnout — all of which can affect school performance and emotional wellbeing. Aim for a healthy balance that includes plenty of rest, free play, and family time alongside organised commitments.

A Strong Routine Builds Resilient Learners

When home life includes enough sleep, healthy meals, downtime, and a predictable routine, children are more likely to arrive at school calm, focused, and ready to learn. By supporting your child with consistent routines, you’re laying the foundation for success — not just at school but in all areas of life.  Let’s work together to support our students in becoming happy, healthy learners!

Warm regards
Pamela Lidstone
Head of Student Services

Important Messages

Student Medication & Health Support

All student medication required at school must:

• Be submitted to the office by the parent/carer
• Be medically prescribed/authorised
• Have a pharmacy label with your child's name, doctor name, medicine dosage and frequency
• Be in date
• Be in it's original packaging

If your child requires support at school to manage their asthma/anaphylaxis/severe allergic reaction, they are also required to provide an annually updated action plan signed by their doctor. 

Daily Medication is to be provided in a blister pack. Blister (or Webster) packs can be purchased from your pharmacy for a small fee and are the preferred option as they improve the safe dispensing of medication to students.

We appreciate your support in safely managing your child's medication at school.

Is your child's medical information up to date? 
Email us at admin@mudgeerabacreekss.eq.edu.au
with any changes. 

Information Sharing with Third Parties

The school often receives requests from third parties (e.g. paediatricians, psychologists) for student information to support their work or assist with a diagnosis.

To share information about your child with third parties, the Department requires parental consent. You will be asked to:

1. Complete a Third Party Consent for Information Sharing form.

2. Ask your child's specialist to email their request to the Principal at: principal@mudgeerabacreekss.eq.edu.au

3. Provide the original hard copy of any requested questionnaire or assessment (if applicable). Due to copyright, we cannot accept online, photocopied, scanned, or emailed PDF versions.

4. Share relevant reports that support your child's diagnosis or required adjustments at school.

Timeframes for Completion
We aim to process requests promptly, but due to high demand, require at least 4 weeks’ notice from the date all paperwork is received. Urgent requests are considered case by case.

We look forward to working with your child’s team to support their learning at school.

Finance Matters

Your P & C

🎉It’s Back – Our Entertainment Fundraiser! 🎉

We’re thrilled to announce that we’re fundraising with Entertainment again this year! 
Get ready to unlock amazing savings on dining, shopping, travel, and more – all while supporting a great cause.

💥 Don’t miss out on this fantastic offer – check it out today and start saving big!

  Interested? Click here for more information on how to purchase.

Thanks for supporting a P & C Fundraiser.

Creek Cafe - Check Out Our Daily Meal Deals!

To snap up one of these yummy deals for second break (1pm), order by 9am daily through www.flexischools.com.au The kids will love you!

Tuckshop Volunteers Needed!

Warm Regards
P&C Committee

What's On @ The Creek

National Reconciliation Week   27 May - 3 June

National Reconciliation Week is a time for all Australians to learn about our shared histories, cultures and achievements. The theme for 2025, Bridging Now to Next, urges us to look ahead and continue to push forward as past lessons guide us. It also calls for Australians to step forward together. This is a time for growth, reflection, and commitment to walking together.

What's on Around the Creek