Every year at Mareeba SS we strive to build the capability of, and enable and empower students as leaders. We recognised that all students are, and have the ability to be leaders and are encouraged to use their personal qualities to take on various roles to maximise their potential. While we recognise that leadership roles are not defined by or limited to badge holder positions, we do recognise and celebrate our formal school leaders. Last week we were very impressed by the calibre of students who had nominated for student leader positions with particular praise for those students who presented their speeches to peers on parade. This is certainly not an easy task and students did this with confidence. In 2023, I look forward to working closely with our student leaders.
School Captains: Jeda Kendall and Seth Marinelli; Vice School Captains: Lilla Joslin and Tyson Marcel; Indigenous Leaders: Xephyr Grainer and Ruby Grogan; Indigenous Ambassadors: John Grogan, Jahvarnah Gore and Kaylahni Richards; Granit Sports Captains: Terrence Fineman and Mahalia Gallaher; Barron Sports Captains: Jeffry Walsh and Brooke Carey; Mitchell Sports Captains: Rocco Carusi and Lexy Ariotti; Instrumental Music Captain: Sirara Ta'ake and Auslan Captain: Layla West
Today marks the end of our 2023 Learn to Swim program. Well done to all of the students who regularly participated in swimming lessons. A big thank you to Mr Dan Samanes and Mr Remy Fry for coordinating the swimming lessons and their work in preparing for our Years 4-6 Swimming Fun Day scheduled for next Friday 2nd December.
This time every year we farewell and welcome new staff to our school. Whilst formal staff farewells will happen in week 10, I would like to take this opportunity to thank those staff leaving us this year for their dedication and commitment in supporting our students learning and success, and wish them every achievement in their future endeavours. This year we say farewell to Ms Sara Denman and Mr Scott Anderson who have both transferred to new schools for 2023. Farewell also to Mrs Robynne Anderson who will begin maternity leave awaiting the arrival of her third little bundle of joy, Ms Vanessa Boxall who is working a little closer to home on the southern end of the Tablelands and Ms Gemma Chatfield (Quigg) who is taking some time to explore Australia in 2023 and Mrs Lisa Battistin who is transferring to MSHS as an Educational Interpreter. Thank you also to Ms Suzanne Bowyang, Ms Caitlin Bale, Ms Sinead Bryant, Ms Lesley Annesley, Mr Morgan Chong for their contributions in 2022, no doubt we will continue to see you around MSS in the future. Finally, taking a short break next year is our groundsman Mr Brad who will return in Term 2 – enjoy your time off. With farewells come welcomes and this year we would like to welcome to our team Ms Karli Wallace, Mrs Sheridan Bolton and Mrs Mary Cosmo. A warm welcome back to Mrs Margarita Tatti who is returning to full time teaching and Mrs Karen Roberts who is returning from Maternity leave. With this, I would like to congratulate Ms Nicole Ghensi, Ms Kirsty Shakespeare, Mr Jesse Winspear and Mr Dylan Rhodes who successfully secured permanency with Education Queensland in 2022. As with all staffing things staffing, some changes may occur.
As we draw close to the end of term and school year, we have a number of significant events coming up. These begin with our 2022 Step up Day on Wednesday 30th November. This event will give our students the opportunity to meet their new class teacher and class mates in their 2023 classroom, providing the chance to calm any concerns or fears and ask any questions they may have in preparation for their next school year. Students will bring home their 'Step-Up day' packs on this day containing important information about their teacher, classroom location, booklist and start of year events. Our 95% Attendance 'wet' party is scheduled for Tuesday 6th December and our Prep, Year 1 and Year 2 award ceremonies scheduled for Week 9. In week 10 we will recognise our students' academic, sporting and cultural achievements during our Years 3-6 Senior Awards ceremony and celebrate the end of a chapter for our Year 6's with the Grade 6 Graduation both scheduled for Thursday 8th December. A reminder that Semester 2 student progress report cards will be emailed out on Wednesday 7th December. Please ensure your we have your most current email address on file and keep up to date with our latest information via our school website and Facebook page.