8 August 2025

Deputy Principal’s Message

Welcome to week 4

The weather is still quite chilly at the moment even though the days have been quite comfortable.  The inclement weather has however caused a lot of sickness with both staff and students at Miami State School.  We have not escaped the large number of germs that are currently circulating.  Even though attendance at school is important, it is also very important that sick children stay at home and rest if it is needed.

PBL

Raising Children

The above website has a wealth of information including tips and tricks on the sometimes difficult task of raising children.  I urge all parents to take some time to look at the information provided.  The information below is taken directly from the “Talking about school” section.

Talking about school: why children sometimes find it hard

‘How was school?’ is a big question. To answer, your child has to sum up a whole day, and that’s hard for children (and even adults!) to do.

A child might really want to say, ‘My day was so jam-packed with ideas and classes and social stuff that I don’t know where to start’. So it’s easier just to say, ‘OK’.

Some children feel their school experiences are private, so they might not want to share them. This is a typical part of school-age development as children start to shape their own identities and social worlds. But your child still needs to know you’re available when they’re ready to talk.

Why talking about school is important

Talking with your child about the school day shows you’re interested in what’s going on in their life. This interest boosts your child’s mental health, happiness and wellbeing. It can also have a very positive effect on your child’s behaviour and achievement. It shows your child that you value school and education, which encourages them to value it too.

Talking together about school also helps you get to know more about what’s expected of your child at school, how they learn and how they handle challenges. It can help you understand when your child is feeling less interested in school or having problems.

When you’re in touch with your child’s feelings about school, you’re more likely to see problems before they get too big. This way you can work on overcoming challenges together.

And talking about school issues – like school projects or friendship problems – is also a great chance for you to express your family values about things like teamwork, respect for self and others, friendships, relationships, problem-solving and so on.

Strategies for talking about school with your child

When your child first gets home from school in the afternoon, they’ll probably be tired and hungry or thinking about other things. So, easing the transition from school or after-school activities to home can help your child feel more like talking.

It’s best to avoid asking your child a lot of questions straight away – this can be overwhelming for your child. You can just let your child know that you’re glad to see them, and talk about non-school topics for a while. Younger children will probably also like unpacking their bags and going through any notes before you ask about school.

Saving questions about homework for later on can also take the pressure off!

Every afternoon or evening will be different. Even if your child usually likes to share their day with you, there’ll be days when they don’t want to talk. Sometimes it’s a matter of sensing your child’s mood and picking the right moment. Some days there might not be a right moment at all, and that’s OK.

Simple, positive and specific questions about parts of the day can get your child talking. It’s good to use questions that invite more than a ‘yes’, ‘no’ or ‘OK’ response. For example:

• What’s the news from school today?
• What was fun?
• What did you like best at school today?
• What does your classroom look like at the moment?
• What did you do in class after recess?
• Who did you hang out with today?
• What subjects did you do today?
• What topics are you working on in science at the moment?

Tips for talking about school with primary school children

These tips can help you get a conversation going:

• Make time to talk. This can often be when you’re doing something with your child. For example, your child might like to talk when you’re walking the dog or preparing dinner together.
• Give your child your full attention if they want to talk with you about their day.
• Take seriously whatever your child tells you. For example, you can say things like, ‘That’s really interesting. Then what happened?’ or ‘And how do you feel about that?’
• Use respectful language when you talk about the school and teachers with or in front of your child. For example, ‘I can see that’s frustrating, but Ms Adams is your teacher and you need to speak respectfully to her’, or ‘Yes, that seems unfair, but perhaps you don’t know the whole story’.
• Use active listening techniques. These can help you pick up on your child’s feelings and work out whether they want to talk.

Until next fortnight

Ben Edmunds
Deputy Principal Year 4 - 6

Deputy Principal’s Message

Working Together: Building a Strong School Community at Miami SS

At Miami State School, we deeply value the partnership we share with our families. When parents and teachers work together, children thrive. Research has consistently shown that strong parent-school collaboration contributes to improved student engagement, higher achievement, and better social outcomes (Epstein, 2011). When children see the adults in their lives working together positively, it sends a powerful message: they are supported, valued, and their education matters.

This partnership also fosters consistency in expectations and approaches between home and school. When children experience this alignment, they feel safer and more confident in navigating their learning journey.

Miami SS is proud to be a proactive school. We design and embed intentional programs that explicitly teach students the social, emotional, behavioural, and academic skills they need to succeed. Our Positive Behaviour for Learning (PBL) framework, social-emotional learning lessons, literacy and numeracy interventions, and classroom routines are just a few examples of how we equip students with lifelong skills in a supportive environment.

We recognise that every child has strengths. Our approach is strengths-based—we seek to identify what each child can do and build upon it. At the same time, we know that children face challenges. Our job is to help them grow through those challenges with support, guidance, and high expectations. According to Professor Lea Waters (2017), a strengths-based approach helps children develop resilience, self-efficacy, and motivation—critical ingredients for both academic and life success.

Open, honest, and respectful communication between families and school staff is essential. Schools are complex places. Children are learning, and learning involves making mistakes. These are opportunities for growth. By working together respectfully, we can model problem-solving and resilience for our children and support them in developing independence and confidence.

Working Respectfully with Teachers – How You Can Help:

• Approach conversations with an open mind and a calm tone.
• Assume positive intent—our teachers want the best for every student.
• Request a meeting time, rather than approaching staff during busy drop-off or pick-up times.
• Listen actively and share your insights as a parent—we value your perspective.
• Understand that school staff work within departmental policies, curriculum requirements, and legal responsibilities.
• Be kind. A little patience and appreciation go a long way.

We know that families are the first and most important educators of children. When we come together with mutual respect and understanding, we can make a powerful team. Let’s continue to work in partnership—acknowledging the complexity of our roles, and keeping our shared goal in sight: the success and wellbeing of every child at Miami SS.

Julia Hoy
Deputy Principal Prep – Year 3

Office/Finance News

Communication: It is important that all communication relating to change of personal details and payments are directed to our office@miamiss.eq.edu.au email address.

DEBTOR STATEMENTS (Please see example below)

Debtor statements will be issued at the beginning of each month.  A statement will show all of your enrolled students at Miami State School on the one statement.

If you don’t receive a statement, it means that you have nothing owing on your student’s account. 

If you receive a statement and it shows a (-) negative sign in front of the $ amount, it means you are in credit on your account.  PLEASE DO NOT PAY.  When future invoices are issued, please advise the school and we can apply the credit to your invoice.  If you would like the credit on your account applied to a current invoice that is showing on your statement, you will need to notify the school for us to apply this credit.  If you have any queries, please email the office on office@miamiss.eq.edu.au or call on 5595 4888. 

Please ensure when you are making a payment, that you pay it against the original invoice NOT against a statement.

Payments

Please ensure when making a deposit into the school bank account you put your students name and invoice number as a reference.  This ensures we can apply it to your invoice promptly.

No late payments will be accepted, please note direct deposits can take up to 3 business days for funds to clear.

If you are experiencing any financial difficulties, please contact our office (office@miamiss.eq.edu.au) to request a payment arrangement.

How to record a Student Absence

• Option 1 - Text our SMS line on 0427 904 333 with student’s full name, class and the reason for absence (This is our preferred method). As the SMS text automatically goes into our school system.
• Option 2 - Email absentee@miamiss.eq.edu.au, with student’s name, class and reason for absence.
• Option 3 - Contact our office on 07 5595 4888 and press 1 to leave a voicemail informing students full name, class and the reason for absence.

If you receive a text message for an unexplained absence, please reply to the text ASAP with a reason for absence to avoid us contacting you and interrupting your busy day.

Thank you 😊
Office Staff

HPE News

Miami Sports

National Trials:

What an honour it is for one of our very own House Captains Taj S to be names as the U12 Boys Queensland Afl Captain for 2025. Taj will be taking on numerous states up at the Sunny Coast over the weekend to trial for the Australian U/12 Boys AFL. He has worked extremely hard and it’s great to see him pursue his dreams. We wish Taj all the very best and know what ever happens he has already achieved outstanding results on and off the AFL field.

Miami Netball

Good luck to coaches Mrs Dutton and Ms Kaoustos who will be taking two Miami Netball Teams heading off to play in the All-Schools Netball competition next week. These players have been working hard and we are sure they will represent their school with outstanding sportsmanship, dedication and a winning attitude.

Miami Athletics

Our Miami Athletics Team will be heading to Runaway Bay Super Sports Centre next week. Good luck to all those athletes competing in their respective events. All students will be competing for a spot on the Oceanic District Team, with the next round taking place Tuesday 26^th August – Thursday 28^th August and the same venue.

Ben Crilly-Hargrave

PBL Focus Week 3

PBL Focus Week 4

Office Notice Board Week 3 – 4K

4K have been learning about sustainability, with a focus on how our choices and behaviours impact the environment.  Through class discussions, hands – on activities, and multimedia resources, students have explored the causes and effects of climate change and developed a deeper understanding of the importance of caring for our planet.  They are beginning to identify actions they can take to live more sustainably, both at school and at home.

Office Notice Board Week 4 – 5GS

5GS have been doing some research on palm oil and the affect its production has on the environment. Here they have created artworks based around orangutans and the harm they are enduring.

Sustainable palm oil refers to palm oil that is produced in a way that minimizes environmental impact, protects biodiversity, and respects the rights of workers and local communities.

Tuckshop

Our wonderful tuckshop is always looking for an extra pair of hands to help out. If you have a little spare time, they would love for you to pop in and give them a hand.  Please contact the tuckshop via,

email:  miamisstuckshop@gmail.com

Pancakes

PANCAKE MORNINGS for Term 3 will be years 4-6, Monday 11th August (wk.5) and years Prep–3, Monday 25th August (wk.7). We serve from 8.15am until 8.45am.

Can you help us stock up?   We need: Pancake shake mix, Paper plates (packs of 50 or 20) and Maple Syrup (not Golden Syrup). Donation Items can be dropped at the front office. Thank you for your generosity and support.                                                              

*(Chappy always has Gluten free pancakes available for students on request).

Shane Scott (Chappy)

After School Programs

Please note these programs are facilitated by external providers and you are required to make any enquiries or bookings directly with the relevant provider. Please ensure you are on time to collect your student from the relevant location. Collection of students from the oval and multi-courts to be via Pizzey Road tennis courts (not through the school).

TERM 3 – 2025 AFTER SCHOOL ACTIVITES

MONDAYS

Sports X (Soccer)

•  Luke Kunde – Ph: 0413 242 141 (Wk 2 to Wk 9 (8wks) from 3.00pm – 4.00pm)
• Location: Oval

THURSDAYS

Tae Kwon Do

• Gavin Salter - Ph: 0423 249 742 (Runs all year from 5.45pm – 7.45pm)
• Location: Miami State School Hall

ChessMates 

• Miles – Ph: 0475 431 622 (Week 2 – Week 10 (9wks) from 3.00pm – 4.00pm)
• Location: Classroom I202

Book Week Parade

2025 Premier’s Reading Challenge

Once again Miami State School students are invited to join in the 2025 Premier’s Reading Challenge. Students are encouraged to select a range of fiction and non-fiction books suited to their reading ability and record books read during the reading period, from 6 May to 22 August.

To complete the challenge:

• Prep to Year 2 must read or experience at least 20 books
• Years 3 and 4 must read at least 20 books
• Years 5 to 9 must read at least 15 books.

Experiencing books can include shared reading, listening to stories, or reading picture books. The aim for the 2025 challenge is to encourage students to make time to read.

Every student who completes the challenge, and returns the completed record reader form, will receive a Certificate of Achievement. Hopefully many of our students will participate in the 2025 Premier’s Reading Challenge.

E-Bikes/Scooter Rules