MOSS Newsletter - Term 3 2025
- A Message from Mike Curtis - Principal
- A Message from Chrissy Hamilton - Deputy Principal
- A Message from Katie Bartholomaeus - Deputy Principal
- A Message from Melissa Farrell - HOSES ECDP
- A Message from Emma Lancaster & Jenni Hakl Head of Department - Curriculum
- A Message from Juliet Young - EPO (Education Program Officer)
- A Message from Louise Ruzic and Sharon Tay - Engagement Coaches
- Positive Behaviour for Learning (PBL) at MOSS!
- A Message from our HPE Teacher - Eric Smyth
- A Message from Chappy Deb
- G Hub
- D/E Hub
- A/B Hub
- K/L Hub
- C/H/I Hub
- J Hub
- Drama
- Non-Verbal Drama Sessions
- School Holidays Events
- 2025 School Calendar
A Message from Mike Curtis - Principal
Dear Families,
It’s been a busy and exciting term at MOSS, with lots of progress happening across teaching, learning, and our facilities. I’d like to share a few highlights with you.
Instructional Leadership and Teaching Focus
This term our leadership team has been conducting classroom walkthroughs. These visits help us see what’s working well and where we can best support teachers. From this, we’ve identified some key priorities moving forward:
• Positive Behaviour for Learning (PBL): specifically, through a school-wide focus on self-regulation and co-regulation. We’ve chosen the Zones of Regulation as our consistent approach.
• Staff will further embed AAC into reading sessions. Our reading plan will sustain comprehensive literacy for emergent learners while embedding Systematic Synthetic Phonics (SSP) as an evidence-based approach.
• Professional Development: staff have been engaging in training around assistive technology, behaviour, and student participation. The feedback has been fantastic, and the impact for students is already showing.
School Facilities and Building Works
Next week, construction begins on the refurbishment of our multi-purpose hall and gym to create a new administration precinct.
• The next stage starts in the December holidays with J Block and the new car park behind it.
• We know 2026 will bring disruption, but we are planning carefully to keep everyone safe.
• The new facilities will be worth the wait and will give our students and staff the spaces they deserve.
Rebranding Our School
We’ve started work on a new school emblem and motto to reflect our student attributes and our commitment to promoting and developing them. Our values of teamwork, trust, empathy, communication, and respect will continue to enhance this work.
• Staff have created initial designs and mottos linked to them.
• Hub teams will now partner with students to refine the ideas.
• The top 5 designs will be finalised by a professional graphic artist and put to a community vote.
Our school colours and uniforms will remain the same.
Celebrations and Events
This term we’ve enjoyed some wonderful days together:
• PBL Rewards Farmyard Day – Students loved meeting the visiting miniature goats and joining in the wide range of farm-themed activities. It was engaging, hands-on, and so much fun for everyone.
• MOSS Fun Run – A huge success, running across most of the term and finishing with a fantastic finale. It was wonderful to see so many families supporting the event. Special thanks to Juliet and the P&C for their hard work in making it such a success and raising funds for new active play equipment.
• Sports Day – Full of energy, teamwork, and school spirit! Eric did a brilliant job organising such a well-rounded program of activities for all abilities. It was a celebration of participation and achievement – a day to be proud of.
A huge thank you to all staff for organising these events and to families for your ongoing support – it makes such a difference. As always, I’m incredibly proud of our students, staff, and the strong partnerships we share with families. I hope you enjoy the holiday break with your children before we head into a busy Term 4.
Warm regards, Mike Curtis - Principal
A Message from Chrissy Hamilton - Deputy Principal
MyHR Workplace Health and Safety (HSW)
We work very hard to keep students and staff safe at MOSS. However, at times incidents do occur. If your child is injured at school, please be reassured that we follow the Department’s incident management process. Parents and carers are notified, and if we have any concerns or need to provide further details, you may receive a call from Mike, Katie, or myself.
All incidents that require first aid - whether it is offering a kind word, providing comfort, applying ice, or seeking medical advice - are recorded in the Department’s MyHR Workplace Health and Safety (HSW) portal. Each report includes details of the incident, a description of the injury, and any first aid provided.
I review these incidents to identify causes and recommend school-based actions to reduce the risk of the same or similar incidents occurring again. I also provide feedback twice each term to our school HSW committee, and all incidents are also reviewed regionally to help identify trends and resourcing needs.
The safety and wellbeing of all our students and staff is prioritised at MOSS.
A Message from Katie Bartholomaeus - Deputy Principal
A Term Full of Professional Learning at Mount Ommaney Special School.
It’s been a busy and exciting term of professional learning for our dedicated teaching team! Our staff have engaged in a wide range of valuable training sessions, all aimed at enhancing the learning experiences and outcomes for our students.
Some of the highlights this term included:
- Planning with Purpose – Backward Mapping: Led by our wonderful Engagement Coaches, this session supported teachers in designing meaningful and intentional learning programs by starting with the end goal in mind.
- Alternate Pencils: Delivered by our Occupational Therapists, this session explored creative and accessible ways for students with complex needs to engage in written expression.
- Movement for Learning: Our Physiotherapist guided staff through practical strategies to incorporate movement into the classroom, helping to support both learning and wellbeing.
- Assistive Technology: We welcomed an Advisory Visiting Teacher from Statewide Services who shared expert insights into the latest tools and technologies that support student communication and access.
- iPad Apps in Action: Our Head of Curriculum facilitated a hands-on workshop showcasing engaging and effective educational apps that can be used to support learning across a variety of needs.
- AAC Big Day In: Teachers also took part in online professional learning focused on Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC), deepening their understanding of how to best support students who use AAC to communicate.
- Team Teach: Delivered by our Student Support Coach, this session provided staff with practical, respectful, and safe strategies to support students with emotional regulation and behaviour, in line with our positive behaviour support practices.
September Student-Free Day – Learning, Collaboration, and Innovation
On our recent student-free day in September, staff came together for a full day of collaboration, creativity, and professional learning. The day began with an inspiring re-branding session led by our Principal, Mike. In a fun and interactive format, staff explored potential new mottos and logo ideas that reflect the heart of our school community and vision for the future.
Andrea, our Student Support Coach, followed with a practical and insightful session on the Zones of Regulation, including a look at some exciting changes and innovations we’ll be exploring to further support our students’ emotional development and self-regulation.
To finish the day, staff participated in three practical learning rotations:
- Communication
- Clicker 8 and
- ChooseIt Maker.
These sessions provided hands-on opportunities to deepen our understanding of the resources we use to enhance student learning and communication across the school.
It was a productive and energising day that highlighted our team's strong commitment to continuous improvement and student success.
We are proud of our staff’s commitment to ongoing learning and their dedication to providing the highest quality education and support for every student.
A Message from Melissa Farrell - HOSES ECDP
In every child, there is a spark of brilliance waiting to shine. Families who walk beside children with developmental delays and disabilities are not just caregivers - they are champions of courage, love, and possibility.
What a Wonderful Few Weeks at the ECDP!
We’re excited to share that around 95 families are now accessing support through the ECDP – it’s fantastic to see our community continuing to grow as we support our little ones transition to Kindy and full-time schooling.
Book Week was a highlight, with children and staff joining in the fun by dressing up over three magical days. It was wonderful to see so much creativity and excitement around reading!
We were also lucky to welcome Occupational Therapists and Physiotherapists from the Department of Education, who ran two informative Prep Readiness Workshops for families. Thank you to everyone who came along and engaged – your involvement makes such a difference!
In the lead-up to Father’s Day, the children had a great time creating thoughtful cards and special gifts for the dads and important people in their lives. The joy and effort they put in was truly heartwarming.
Our teaching staff recently participated in a Student Free Day of professional learning, focusing on The Zones of Regulation – a valuable tool to support children's emotional development. Later that day, our team began early planning conversations for 2026.
A Message from Emma Lancaster & Jenni Hakl Head of Department - Curriculum
Book an Adventure: Book Week 2025
Our Book Week Parade in Week 6 was a wonderful celebration of stories, imagination, and creativity! Students dressed as their favourite book characters and shared the joy of reading with the whole school community. A big thank you to all the families who made amazing costumes and those who were able to join us on the day—your support and enthusiasm made the event even more special. It was fantastic to see so many smiling faces in the audience cheering on our students. Looking forward to bigger things for the parade in 2026!
Growing Readers and Writers: Comprehensive Literacy in Action
This term, we have been on an exciting journey to deepen our understanding of comprehensive literacy instruction for our emergent learners. Staff have been exploring the key components that help students build a strong foundation in literacy, including:
• Shared Reading – building comprehension, fluency, vocabulary, and phonics by modelling fluent reading and providing a supportive context for students to participate in and discuss the text.
• Writing with Adults – co-creating texts and sharing ideas to build confidence.
• Writing from Adults – seeing thoughts come to life on paper through teacher modelling and real-life examples.
• Writing by Me – encouraging independence and celebrating every early mark, letter, and word.
• Working with Letters and Sounds – playful, multi-sensory activities that connect language, sound, and print.
• Self-Selected Reading – empowering students to choose books that spark their curiosity and joy.
What makes this work so special is the way staff are bringing these elements to life in classrooms. From sound hunts and group storytelling to student-led book choices and student created books, our teachers and support staff are creating rich and joyful literacy experiences every day.
We want to celebrate both the knowledge and commitment of our staff and the achievements of our students. Together, we are building a vibrant school culture where literacy learning is not just about skills – it’s about connection, confidence, and joy.
A Message from Juliet Young - EPO (Education Program Officer)
MOSS Marathon
Students and staff put in a marathon effort to achieve a distance of 42kms by walking, running, riding or scooting around the school. On Friday 12th September, parents, carers and our local counsellors joined us to complete the final distance and to celebrate this amazing achievement. Thanks to our P&C who put on a sausage sizzle, co-ordinated the fund raising and provided prizes for the hubs that raised the most money. A total of $3500 was raised and will go towards active play equipment and to support our bike riding program.
Year 6 and Year 12 Polo and Jersey Presentations
A big MOSS thankyou to Ken Watson from Whatsinaname, one of our long-standing community partners. Every year Ken generously donates named polos and jerseys to our yr 6 and yr 12s. Earlier this term parents and carers attended a very special event where Ken presented these jerseys to some very excited students. A light morning tea was provided which gave everyone the opportunity to connect with parents and teachers.
Special Children’s Christmas Party
Every year our student cohort is offered the opportunity to apply for tickets to the Special Children’s Christmas party. This year forty-five parents took up the opportunity to apply for tickets to this popular event which is for children up to and including the age of 12 on the date of the party – 22 November. Twenty of these tickets went to ECDP families.
Rotary Junior Community Award
This year 10 Year 6 students are undertaking this valuable program run by Emma Lancaster – HOD-C P-6 and Juliet Young, Education Program Officer. Students meet once a week to explore and work on topics such as community service, physical recreation, developing new skills and social experiences. Activities have included planning and cooking a simple meal, exploring mindfulness and hosting a community meeting. Our students very much look forward to this session every week and we love running this program with them.
A Message from Louise Ruzic and Sharon Tay - Engagement Coaches
Helping Students Take the Lead in Their Learning
This term we have been focusing on knowing our learners—understanding what each child needs and planning engaging experiences that support them to reach their goals. One of the most powerful ways to do this is by building in opportunities for student choice and independence
Sometimes children may look engaged—doing the work, listening, or answering questions—but real engagement happens when they feel a sense of ownership over their learning. When children have the chance to make choices, follow their interests, and see the purpose of what they are learning, they are more motivated and able to apply skills in different settings.
For many of our students, this sense of autonomy is limited in everyday life. Communication challenges and routines can mean they don’t always get to say what they want, when, or how. At school, we try to change that by giving them safe and meaningful ways to take the lead in their learning.
Some of the ways we do this include:
- Seeing things from their perspective – thinking about how they are experiencing the activity, not just how it looks to us.
- Offering choices – in activities, who they work with, or how they show their learning.
- Explaining the “why” – making learning meaningful (e.g. practising letter sounds to write a shopping list for cooking).
- Inviting, not insisting – using encouraging language and making activities enjoyable.
- Respecting their feelings – understanding that not every child will love every activity and finding new ways to engage them.
- Being patient – allowing them to learn at their own pace and in their own way.
For example: In one class, students were learning about measurement. Instead of giving them all the same task, the teacher offered a choice: some students measured ingredients to make playdough, while others measured water for filling containers in water play. Both activities built the same skill, but students were far more engaged because they could choose the activity that interested them most.
Even small changes - like being given a choice, a different way of showing what they know, or extra time to complete something - can make a big difference to how engaged and motivated students feel.
At the heart of this is one simple idea: when students feel they have a voice and some control, their learning is deeper, more meaningful, and more enjoyable.
Thank you to all our staff and students for an incredible and engaging term. Sharon and Louise
Positive Behaviour for Learning (PBL) at MOSS!
This term in PBL students have been practicing our whole school expectations of:
Be Your Best
Be Respectful
Be Safe
We focused on one specific behaviour a fortnight and teachers were able to spend time explicitly teaching what it looked like and students were able to practice and be acknowledged for their learning. Our 5 specific behaviours this term included:
- I follow my schedule
- I use kind words
- I am safe with technology
- I am respectful to animals
- I am ready to learn
When students demonstrate their expected behaviours, they are given a sticker for their sticker chart. After they complete their charts, they get to visit admin, choose a prize and get acknowledged by the leadership team! This year we have also introduced whole school celebrations that all students are invited to to acknowledge their work on practicing explicit behaviours. This term Rosie hosted a ‘Day on the Farm’ where students came and engaged in several activities including an experience with some Pygmy Goats! It was a great day and a highlight of our year so far.
A Message from our HPE Teacher - Eric Smyth
Sports Day and Moss Marathon
Our students have been out and about running around the school. Working together to cover 42.2km as part of Moss Marathon and getting fitter for the school cross country on Sports Day. Thanks to Juliet and our wonderful P and C for raising funds for our school.
Sports day culminated on Thursday with the Green Team taking the honours! Blue team had a determined inaugural competition and yellow team tried valiantly but were unable to back up their win from last year. Final scores:
Blue – 52
Yellow – 57
Green – 72
It was great to see parents and family members run the cross country with their children and contribute to the overall points tally. We’ll definitely continue with this in the future.
The students also enjoyed all our sports, games and activities under J Block after their cross country run. There was something for everyone including, water pistol target range, obstacle course, golf, frisbee, bowling, vortex targets, basketball, connect 4, cornhole, axe throwing, velcro darts, tower building, bubbles, water play, dress ups and much more.
Thanks to the Centenary SHS dance troupe who rocked out with us on Thursday. Our students enjoyed their vibrant energy and danced along with them. Another highlight of the day was our own Sam. D who led a rendition of ‘500 miles’. Centenary and MOSS Students all belting out the tune together!
Congratulations to our house captains for 2025:
Damon Kahler - Blue
Alyssa Chalmers and Mitchell Coleman - Yellow
Izzy Guthrie and Max Morrow – Green
They were chuffed to get their badges.
Athletics
Vincent. W had a great term with his athletics. He competed in the district and regional athletics and was good enough to qualify for state championships in Townsville! Jett.C also competed in the district athletics alongside Vincent, competing in the 100m race, placing third. Well done to both boys and we look forward to supporting you both in what we know will be a bright sporting future!
iCan Basketball
Our year 7-9 students were put through their paces at the recent iCan Basketball day. With games designed to promote running, rolling, bouncing, dribbling, shooting and even lay-ups. After learning lots of learning, they put their skills to the test with a game against Calamvale Special School. All of our students performed brilliantly on the court and they even cheered for the classmates from the sidelines!
Swimming
CHI Hubs participated in their HPE based swimming lessons this term. They learnt about water familiarity, water safety and basic propulsion. Swimming is also a brilliant sensory experience for many of our students and they definitely look forward to it each week.
Next term G and E Hubs get to swim! E hub swims each week on Tuesday and G hub swims weekly each Wednesday. Be ready as it will start on the first day back from holidays as Monday is a public holiday.
Cricket Opportunity in the Holidays – run by QLD Cricket
🏏 Backyard to Big Bash – All Abilities Edition
• Date: Tuesday, 24 September
• Time: 10:00 AM – 12:30 PM
• Location: Allan Border Field, Albion
This free and inclusive session is designed for kids and teens aged 6–18 living with physical disabilities, intellectual disabilities, autism, ADHD, and other neurodiverse conditions. Participants will get the chance to train like professional players at the National Cricket Centre and on the iconic Allan Border Field.
It’s a fantastic opportunity to build confidence, make friends, and discover the joy of cricket in a safe and welcoming environment.
🎁 Plus, every participant receives a gift pack! Spots are limited, so don’t miss out!
👉 Click here to register: https://www.playhq.com/cricket-australia/register/cd78cd
For any questions, please contact Katisha Webb at katisha.webb@qldcricket.com.au
A Message from Chappy Deb
On Saturday 30th August, a group of 20 volunteers from Riverlife Church descended on MOSS to participate in their Community Blitz. In the space of 4 hours, the group knocked over a pile of work and maintenance in our grounds.
They pulled apart, sanded repainted and put back together the seats in the bus set down air-lock area. They cleaned up and made over the B Block playground. They re-stained the big cubby house in the ECDP playground, and they thoroughly weeded and de-grassed the ECDP fenced flower garden.
These area’s have been in need of help for some time, and these volunteers worked so cheerfully and tirelessly to achieve awesome spaces for our students.
A huge THANK YOU to these volunteers for their work and the support they have shown of the MOSS community.
G Hub
As Term 3 comes to an end, we would like to share some of the highlights from a very busy and exciting term.
One of the biggest highlights was our Positive Behaviour for Learning (PBL) party, where the children had the chance to meet and spend time with the pygmy goats – a joyful and memorable experience for everyone! We also loved dressing up and celebrating stories during our Book Week parade, and we squeezed in the Ekka holiday and supported our teachers as some of them went on strike.
This term, we welcomed back Bookish Play with Miss Sandy, which the children always look forward to. In the classroom, we combined English and HASS with our unit “Caring for Our Community”, exploring ways we can help and care for others around us. In Science and Design & Technology, our unit “Let it Grow” saw the children planting, watering, and looking after what felt like endless amounts of plants.
In Mathematics, we focused on “How Long Does It Take?” by exploring time through days of the week, months, and seasons. In HPE, the children learned about healthy eating and enjoyed plenty of movement activities.
Across all of these experiences, we have been delighted to see the children’s communication and social skills continue to grow. Many are showing more confidence in connecting with others, sharing attention, and finding ways to express themselves – whether through words, signs, gestures, or actions. It has been wonderful to watch friendships develop and interactions become richer as the term has gone on.
We are so proud of the progress the children have made and look forward to Term 4, which will bring even more opportunities for learning, fun, and new adventures together.
Wishing you all a safe and restful holiday, G Hub
G1 Class
G2 Class
G3 Class
G4 Class
D/E Hub
This term has been full of discovery, laughter, and hands-on adventures. Our classrooms have been alive with energy and imagination, and we’re excited to share some of our favourite moments with you.
Students in D and E Hub have been working hard to build their skills across many learning areas. In English, we explored different ways to share our ideas and respond to familiar stories especially during shared reading. In Mathematics, we focused on counting through songs, games, and everyday activities, as well as using the language of time to talk about our routines and daily schedules. In Science and HASS, caring for our garden has also been a big focus, and has given students the chance to learn about responsibility and has opened up wonderful conversations about healthy eating and making good food choices.
Book Week was a special highlight of the term. So many of our students got involved and dressed up for the day. We ventured up to the J block under covered area for a school parade where we could see everyone’s costumes. It was lovely to see students across the school excitedly watching and participating in the parade. Book week is always a fun time to celebrate the joy of sharing stories with others and embracing our imaginations and curiosity.
PBL Farm Day was another highlight of the Term. Students enjoyed hands-on farm themed activities with animals, games, and creative play, while practising the PBL focus of “Be Respectful” and “I am respectful to animals”. The day gave students a wonderful chance to see and pat cute goats and learn more about life on a farm, all while working together with friends in a safe, supportive and respectful environment.
A big thank you to our families and carers for your ongoing support this term. We are so proud of all the progress our students have made and can’t wait for more learning, fun, and adventures in Term 4. Wishing everyone a safe, happy, and relaxing holiday!
Warm regards,
The D & E Hub Team
A/B Hub
Wellbeing and social-emotional skills are essential not only for our A/B Hub students to reach their academic potential but also to help them become productive members of society. Research consistently shows that a whole-school, integrated approach to student support is the most effective way to develop these skills and overall wellbeing.
At MOSS, Positive Behaviour for Learning (PBL) provides a strong framework for identifying and implementing evidence-based practices that support both academic and social success for all students. PBL focuses on explicitly teaching and reinforcing the behaviours needed to create safe and supportive learning environments. Clear, consistent routines are established, and staff take a proactive, preventative approach to ensure every student receives the right level of support to thrive.
PBL is central to everything we do in A/B Hub. Whether through daily whole-group lessons, differentiated learning activities, tailored reward systems, fortnightly Hub assemblies, personalised learning goals, trips to the office for awards, or end-of-term celebrations, PBL guides our work. Our students love Buck, Rosie, and Blaze, and they embrace our core values: Be Safe, Be Respectful, Be Your Best!
K/L Hub
This semester, the KL teaching team is providing rich, integrated learning experiences that spark curiosity and creativity. K Block learners are getting their hands dirty in the garden, exploring how plants grow through science and design technology. Their ‘green thumbs’ are paying off — the garden is thriving, with even a few strawberries already picked and enjoyed!
In English and HASS, K block learners are investigating 'Caring for Country', creating information reports about special places and how to care for them. K1 and K2 learners have shared thoughtful reflections on what makes these places meaningful. Through these activities, K Block is showing that Caring for Country starts right here at MOSS, as they build strong connections with and care for our natural environment. K classes have created thoughtful information reports that reflect deep understanding and personal connection. Some students have used Clicker software to publish their work, with digital tools continuing to support learning across all areas. Maths learning is focused on number and time.
Across the hub, there is a strong focus on reading and comprehension using both decodable and authentic texts, including stories and non-fiction. Students engage with decodable texts daily, either in print or online, as part of their reading routine. Explicit teaching of comprehension skills, supported by language modelling and levelled questioning, helps students learn how to find information in texts and make meaningful connections. L block guided reading groups focus on developing comprehension, while all classes prioritise daily shared reading. Additionally, students also engage with a phonics focus through explicit instruction, multi-modal learning and hands-on activities. Blending and segmenting sounds are essential skills for confident word decoding during reading.
L Block learners have dipped into an exciting integrated unit combining Visual Arts, English, and Digital Technologies. They're exploring both narratives and informational texts, with a strong focus on building their decoding and comprehension skills — both essential for becoming confident readers. Students have been learning to identify the key features of both informational texts and narratives. They've enjoyed reading a variety of stories, including fun fractured fairytales, and have been creating retells to show their understanding. This has included using different art techniques and concepts to create story art. Along the way, they’re developing a deeper understanding of characters, plot, and how stories are structured. Students are growing in confidence as communicators, as they thoughtfully share their ideas and opinions about the texts they've explored.
Lower secondary classes are focusing on money and operations concepts in numeracy, and also covering Auslan this semester. We’ve been learning AUSLAN linked to stories and daily routines, such as go, stop, hello, my name, like/don’t like, dragon, pig, wolf etc.
KL Hub celebrated Science Week (August 12–16) with rotational activities based around this year’s theme, “Science: Illuminate the Future.” Lower secondary students explored chemistry and colour science, experimenting with reactions and changes they could see in real time. Meanwhile, our K classes investigated the world of living things through engaging play-based invitations and hands-on explorations. Across the hub, students embraced their inner scientists—making predictions, testing ideas, observing closely, and sharing their findings! It was curiosity, discovery, and fun as learners played scientist!
The Book Week parade was a super fun day for our students. The parade was a wonderful way for students to share their love of books and characters. Our students loved presenting their costume to the wider school community. There were lots of Superheroes, Winnie the Poo and Zog even made an appearance.
L block classes have also had excursions to the Ipswich Art Gallery, and Zone Bowling at Richlands for a Positive Behaviour for Learning ten pin bowling reward. Students also had a chance to use money by buying a snack at the canteen, which tied in perfectly to learning around money in numeracy. We also got sporty at the iCan Basketball day held on the 9th September, which was an absolute blast! Our students thoroughly enjoy exploring and engaging with the community! We know K block classes are looking forward to their camp adventure in Term 4 too!
KL Hub continues to hold fortnightly PBL assemblies to celebrate our learner’s efforts to ‘Be Safe’, ‘Be Respectful’ and ‘Be your Best’. There’s been lots of PBL Champions, and KL staff are so proud of how students are being safe and respectful at school and in the community, and giving every activity their best! Our Hub PBL leader Miss Brodie has also been organising a fortnightly PBL lesson to reinforce the school focus for the fortnight. KL Hub learners love coming together on Friday to learn about being a great learner at MOSS.
Class K1
K1 have been working on creating a booklet titled Our Special Places at MOSS. For English and HASS, students are encouraged to write about the different aspects of MOSS that are meaningful to them. They are beginning to express, in their own words, what makes MOSS a special place, whether it is the playground, the garden, the classrooms, or the friendships they are building. This writing activity not only helps them develop their literacy skills but also gives them an opportunity to reflect on their personal connections to their school environment.
Class K2
This term, K2 students have been exploring the theme on special places in literacy and HASS. They engaged with a wide range of texts to learn about special places in our school and community, and how we can care for them.
Through hands-on exploratory activities, students went around the school grounds to identify different places, their features, and purposes. Many shared that their favourite spots were the library for reading, J Block, and the Ian Lowe playground for playing with friends.
Students have been developing their language and literacy skills as they used their communication systems to practise expressing preferences, opinions, and sharing information. They viewed and read texts as they experimented with writing words and sentences. They created their own texts using alternate pencils such as keyboards, alphabet charts, magnetic letters. Through conversations, they built confidence in using both spoken and aided language. They listened to stories from both informative and imaginative texts as they explored familiar language and visual features about special places in homes and communities and the roles of community helpers. They made connections to personal experiences as they practised comprehension skills when responding to questions, making inferences and recalling information.
K2’s learning journey this term has been a wonderful blend of language development, literacy practice, and real-world exploration, helping students strengthen their communication and literacy skills while connecting with the places that matter most to them.
Class L1
L1 especially enjoyed engaging with the text ‘Zog’ by Julia Donaldson, loving the integration of English with visual art. They created collage backgrounds and stick puppets to act out the story, before creating written retells. Students have focussed on reading different narratives to recall details in the plot about characters and setting, and the sequence of story events, to work towards writing their own text innovation with a created character. There’s been an emphasis on describing characters and the use of adjectives when writing, as well as exploring how a plot develops like a mountain. The beginning of a story sets the scene, the events build up to a problem at the peak of excitement in the story, then the action comes down with the resolution of the problem, and the ending. L1 learners have also been using software, like MSWord, Powerpoint and Clicker to create stories, and read digital books.
Daily reading of non-fiction texts, paired with comprehension activities is helping students extend their reading skills. Explicit phonics lessons are extending understanding of sounds and building word attack skills to further support decoding and reading fluency.
In maths, students have also been role playing situations involving simple addition and subtraction with whole dollar amounts. Number continues to be a focus, with students using their knowledge of addition and subtraction to solve and create word problems related to real world situations.
Class L3
L3 students have been hard at work exploring characters, setting and events within a range of texts and learning experiences. Students have enjoyed participating in class discussions, building vocabulary and understanding of the texts. We have explored characters feelings, thoughts and actions and how these change throughout the story. Students have been demonstrating their understanding through completing written retells of the texts. In numeracy, students have explored concepts of money, including sorting, matching and identifying Australian notes and coins. Students have enjoyed putting this learning into practice by attending excursions where we explored free and paid activities.
Class L4
L4 has thoroughly enjoyed reading Julia Donaldson’s books The Snail and the Whale and Zog. Students retold Zog, learning about story structure, and created artworks using layering and watercolour techniques. They also made shark artworks inspired by The Snail and the Whale, and illustrations linked to The True Story of the Three Little Pigs. Learners find phonics sessions engaging, with songs and word-building supporting spelling and decoding. Students are engaged with informational texts across print and digital platforms such as Reading Eggs, Literacy Planet, and Tar Heel Reader, as well as reading magazines and brochures.
Students have explored digital tools for creating images and publishing texts. Learners have also explored digital technology like microwave keypads, mobile phones, and scanners. We’re excited to continue creating art linked to stories and use our growing literacy and digital skills to retell a favourite text from the unit.
L4 particularly enjoys weekly excursions involving bushwalks, park visits, and shopping. These experiences build independence as students practise communication and money-handling skills. We've also explored addition and subtraction through real-life contexts, like counting sheep at Oxley Common, finding enough chairs at the bakery or working out the cost of two items when shopping.
C/H/I Hub
Junior Secondary
C1, C2 and H1 have been busy in the pool, shopping in the classroom and visiting the community. In visual art, students have been creating by making choices of their preferred colours and textures. For numeracy, our classrooms have become pop up markets stocked with ingredients for cooking. Students have taken on different roles and used play money, bank cards and EFTPOS machines to purchase ingredients and other items. Out in the community our students have transferred these skills into real life situations when purchasing a gift for a special family member this Father’s Day. H1 has enjoyed hosting a chat group where students use their Alternate Augmentative Communication (AAC) and Eye-gaze devices to communicate in a small group setting. It has been great to hear everyone’s unique voice and to talk about recent special events like Book Week, Farm Day and the ICAN Basketball Day.
C1 Class
C2 Class
H1 Class
Primary
This term H2, I1 and I2 been busy becoming little gardeners! The students explored planting seeds, grass, and flowers while learning what plants need in order to grow. Our students planted and tended to their little gardens, proudly watching them grow. We enjoyed making grass heads, decorating them with funny faces and watching their “hair” grow taller each day. One of the highlights for many was watering the garden with the big watering can which quickly became a favourite activity! Recently, students planted their own garden into the school garden beds, where we’ll continue to nurture them and watch them grow. We also enjoyed taking garden strolls, noticing changes and talking about how plants were growing. As part of our Design and Technology learning, the students designed their own gardens and embellished them with rocks, toys, houses, and even laminated cut-outs of their peers. Our gardening theme was explored in multiple ways—through reading books, hands-on planting, 2D laminated gardens, design projects, and creative simulations. These varied experiences provided a multi-sensory learning journey, allowing every student to participate at their own level of comfort and interest.
H2 Class
I1 Class
I2 Class
J Hub
Visual Art
This term in our Visual Art program, our Senior students have enjoyed building their creative skills while working together to prepare for the J Hub group exhibition. This experience has been about more than showing individual artworks. It has focused on making art as a group, with each student adding their own personality, skills and imagination to the project and shared space.
Through creative exploration, students have enjoyed experimenting with different materials and art processes. Painting, printing and three-dimensional effects were combined in layers to create colourful artworks that turned our shared areas into warm and personal spaces. What stands out most is not just the artworks themselves, but the pride and joy students have shown in being part of something bigger. Together, they have shown that we all matter and that everyone has a role in making a difference.
As you look through the Senior Hub’s art activities and outcomes, we invite you to enjoy these highlights of learning, discovery and achievement. This exhibition is a celebration that belongs to every one of our students.
Community Access
In the Senior Hub, Year 11 and 12 students begin to explore some of their post school options by sampling a variety of activities and experiences in the community.
This semester some of our students have had the opportunity to participate in a sailing program with Sailability Graceville and on alternate weeks visit various parks in Brisbane and Ipswich including Ipswich Wildlife Centre at Queen’s Park and the Mt Coot-tha Botanic Gardens. A group of students also attend a Dance/Life Skills program with All Abilities at Kenmore.
At All Abilities, students spent the morning exploring movement and rhythm with ribbons, streamers, scarfs and some instruments. We then had morning tea before engaging in some learning about relationships, emotions, safety in the community and food choices. Not long after, it was time to go back to school.
Accessing the Sailability Program has also been amazing! Students travelled in our school bus to Graceville, where the lovely volunteers supported us to put our life jackets on and board the boat. We gently cruised the Brisbane River enjoying all the sights. Students especially enjoyed when the Captain would speed up slightly and we could feel the wind on our faces.
Students have had such a great time accessing these programs. Each week, as they have become more familiar with their surroundings, their interest, participation and confidence has grown. We are looking forward to embracing some new programs and experiences next term.
Drama
Non-Verbal Drama Sessions
School Holidays Events
2025 School Calendar
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