Malibu School Newsletter - 2025, Term 3, Week 5

Principal's Pen

The days at Malibu seem to fly by. We often say it, but reaching the midway point of Term 3 really has come around very quickly. In this edition, you will see just a small snapshot of the many events and activities that fill your children’s days at school. There is always something happening, with highlights both big and small occurring in classrooms every day.

Over recent weeks, I have been reminded that what may seem ordinary or routine to some of us can, in fact, be a huge and meaningful achievement for another. These moments matter, and it is important to recognise and celebrate them. Our students (and staff) are continually learning in diverse and inspiring ways, and it is a privilege to see this growth each day.

School Response to this week's NDIS Announcements

Many of you will have seen the recent announcements about proposed changes to the NDIS and may understandably be feeling uncertain about what this could mean. While it is wise for us all to prepare for some adjustments in the future, I want to reassure you that our priority at Malibu remains the same, making sure students are supported to learn, grow and thrive.

We value the role of speech pathologists, occupational therapists and physiotherapists in supporting students’ communication, health and access to learning. These professionals are not part of the school’s staffing, so their contribution is especially important. At the same time, we are fortunate to have a dedicated team of staff who are trained and experienced in Positive Behaviour Support. We welcome the involvement of Positive Behaviour Support Practitioners when there are specific needs, but we know that for many families, it is most helpful when NDIS behaviour support services are focused on home and community life, supporting whole-of-life skills and routines.

Last year, we supported close to 1,600 therapy visits at the school, and we are on track to exceed that number again this year. However, we are beginning to see some of the pressures that providers are facing with recent NDIS pricing changes. For example, reduced therapy rates and travel allowances are making it harder for providers to sustain profitable services. We are also noticing an increase in cases where teams of therapists are being scheduled to “double” or even “triple” service students here at the school, but outside of Department of Education processes, and sometimes without parents being fully informed and giving consent. While this two or three therapists at-a-time approach may suit some students, for others it can feel overwhelming and create unnecessary anxiety. It also makes it more difficult for us to manage services smoothly and safely during the school day.

I want to reassure you that there will be no changes to our current processes this year. However, we are having to take a firm but fair stance with providers where confusion about approved service delivery is arising. Looking ahead, we do anticipate needing to make some adjustments in 2026 as the broader NDIS reforms take effect.

To make sure your voices are part of this conversation, I plan to hold consultation sessions with parents and carers next term, once more details about the changes are available. School can be a very effective setting for NDIS supports. If changes continue to affect us, we will strongly advocate for the necessary resources and space to ensure students continue to benefit without impacting the core purpose of the school, which is education.

I thank you for your support of our school community.

Seth

P&C News

The P&C would like to extend a massive thank you to all the wonderful helpers who pitched in at the Book Week sausage sizzle. It was fantastic to see our students mingling with those from other education support schools and to admire the fabulous costumes on display. Your support made the day a real hit!

Looking ahead, don’t forget that in Week 7 we’ll be holding our Father’s Day stall. It’s a special opportunity for students to pick out a gift for a special man in their lives.

Week 7 is also EA Appreciation Week. We all know how hard our Education Assistants work and how much they do for our school and children. Please check out our Facebook group for more details on how we’re planning to celebrate these superstars!

Thanks again for your ongoing support, we are looking forward to seeing our hard work paying off soon with some exciting things happening in the Trizone space in time for Term 4!

Kellie Down
P&C President

Changes to Therapy provider requirements

Our final week for scheduled NDIS therapist visits on the school site will be Week 5 of Term 4, finishing Friday 14 November 2025. After this date, we will be prioritising end-of-year activities and preparing students for their new classrooms and staff, which is always a very busy time.

At the end of 2024, an unexpected policy change meant that all pre-scheduled visits for the new year had to be reworked. This caused frustration for service providers, parents and staff alike. To avoid a repeat of this, and given the possibility of further changes ahead, we will not review or process requests for 2026 therapy visits until the start of the new school year.

Service providers are welcome to submit requests in advance using current documentation, but please be aware that if requirements change, we may need to ask for these to be resubmitted. You may prefer to wait until the new year to avoid duplicating paperwork.

Please have your say - we'd love your feedback!

We would like to hear about what we are doing well, and ideas for what we can do differently. Your responses are anonymous and will help us to plan and improve the way we prepare our Malibu students for A Life Without Limits.

Your response will take only a few minutes!

Little Stars Playgroup Plus

Little Stars Playgroup Plus

Hey there, parents! Do you have little ones between the ages of 0 and 5? If you're looking for a fun and engaging playgroup, we’d be thrilled to have you join us in the Kindy room at Malibu School! We meet every Wednesday during the school term from 9:00 to 11:00 a.m. It’s a wonderful way to help your child build social skills while connecting with other families in the community. Check out the fun we had this week to see if our playgroup feels like the right fit for you and your little one!

This week was absolutely packed with fun, creativity, and lots of laughter! We kicked things off with a truly quacking good time in our craft corner. The kids had a blast getting messy while making their very own Handprint Duck! We traced around their hands and glued on paper to create the cutest little ducks. Then, we splashed into crafting a Duck in a Pond, using paper, chalk, and glue to bring a beautiful pond scene to life.

The sensory play zone was a huge hit! The kids had a fantastic time playing with shredded paper, discovering plastic farm animals hidden inside. They also enjoyed squishing, rolling, and shaping playdough with farm animal cutters, rolling pins, and even playdough hammers. The giggles just kept coming as they created their own little farmyard masterpieces!

For some energetic fun, our little ones bounced to their heart's content on the mini trampoline, hopped around with adorable farm animal toys, and explored the kitchen toys, pretending to be chefs and bakers. It was a whirlwind of excitement and imagination!

And of course, no playgroup would be complete without dancing! Everyone joined in for a lively dance party, with bubbles floating all around. The kids twirled and spun with colourful pom poms, filling the room with joy and laughter. What a fantastic morning full of fun, learning, and unforgettable memories!

If you’d like to know more, please feel free to visit https://www.malibuschool.wa.edu.au/little-stars-playgroup-plus. We can’t wait to welcome you and your little star!

Gilberts and Sons Fresh Market Donation

On July 3^rd, two of our Student Leaders, Akuch and Beau, were delighted to welcome Kirsty and Mitchell from Gilbert and Sons Fresh Market to Malibu. Thanks to the generosity of shoppers participating in the Peel School Program, Malibu received a donation of $1,100 for our school. We are incredibly grateful for this contribution, which will help revitalise our Junior Sensory Room, affectionately known as The Trizone. 

If you'd like to support the Gilbert and Sons Peel School Program, please consider signing up in-store or through their website to ensure that every point you earn goes directly to your nominated school.  

https://www.gilbertandsons.com.au/support-our-schools 

Junior 3

J3 have had a wonderful start to Term 3 and have quickly settled back into our classroom routines. Even with some changes to staff and some wet rainy days, the students have shown great enthusiasm. Especially when it came to splashing in puddles and enjoying wet weather play (thank you for all the spare clothes sent in!).

We’re proud of the progress our students are making following their visual schedules and transitioning between activities, especially on our specialist subject days. It’s been fantastic to see their independence and confidence continuing to grow.

In literacy students have been working through a variety of focused activities and have really enjoyed using choice boards to select their favourite learning songs. These sessions are great for turn-taking, as everyone has a chance to share their preferences and join in.

We’ve been busy getting creative too, planning and making products in preparation for our Enterprise Market Day stall whilst building upon our important functional skills along the way.

In our specialist science lessons students have had the chance to meet some very cute baby chicks. They’ve loved observing them and have shown such curiosity and care towards them which is amazing to see!

Pyjama Day was another highlight of this term so far! A day full of fun and crafts in our comfiest clothes, all for a great cause! The students loved getting involved in the arts and crafts, the classroom was filled with lots of smiles and laughter.

We’re looking forward to the rest of Term 3 and taking part in all of the exciting learning and events still to come!

Sarah, Desiree, Jessica, Lisa, Deidre

Middle 5

A Wonderful Start to Term 3!

We’re so thrilled with how well our students have settled back into their classroom routines this term. It’s been fantastic to see familiar faces and welcome some new ones too - please join us in welcoming Matt, Angela, and Megan! They’ve spent the last five weeks getting to know our students.

One of our key goals this semester is to establish a smooth and consistent morning routine. Every day starts with lively morning songs and a quick review of the day of the week. We’ve also introduced morning folder activities tailored to each student, making those first moments of the day meaningful and engaging for everyone.

In our Mathematics lessons, students are having fun exploring numbers using our Bond Blocks kits. They’re practicing counting forwards from 1 to 10 with these tactile blocks, making learning hands-on and interactive!

In Humanities and Social Sciences (Geography), our curious learners are diving into the exciting topic of Places and Liveability. We’re exploring the differences between rural, remote, and urban areas across Australia, and reflecting on what makes the place where we live so special.

The most exciting moment of the term so far has been our Chicken Hatching in Science! In Week 3, chicken eggs arrived at Malibu School and were carefully monitored in an incubator. Just a few days later, we welcomed a beautiful bunch of fluffy chicks! The students were all smiles as they held, touched, and observed the tiny chicks during Science lessons. The photos say it all!

Dee, Brooke, Matt, Angela and Megan 😊

SAKG

Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden – SAKG - Garden

Students in S3, M1, M2, M3, M5, M6 Have been learning to transition to the Malibu school garden whilst also learning to maintain our garden by participating in weeding, planting, watering and harvesting but most of all exploring our Malibu garden and having fun, wet weather activities we learnt about butterflies, the life cycle of a plant, grass heads, and created a stick person with what students collected from our Malibu garden.

Moetu – SAKG garden Tuesdays.

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Second hand uniforms!

John Tonkin College ESC Disability Expo

John Tonkin College ESC Disability Expo, taking place this year at the MARC! We have an incredible line-up of 100 stall holders, featuring various providers, local government, Education Department, community groups, and micro-enterprise businesses.

We would love for you and your community to join us and experience the amazing opportunities available for people with disabilities. The expo will also include come-try sessions, allowing you to get hands-on and try out new activities.

During the event, you can enjoy door prizes, a photo booth, and more! We hope to see you there!

Date: Friday 17^th October 2025

Time: 10.00am – 2.00pm

Location: Mandurah Aquatic & Recreation Centre (MARC) 303 Pinjarra Road, Mandurah WA 6210

2025 Perth World Festival of Magic Shows

Complimentary tickets are still available for the 2025 Perth World Festival of Magic Shows at The Astor Theatre, Mount Lawley (one-hour show).

* All performances will be Auslan-interpreted.

The Rotary Club of West Perth hosts this event annually to provide an accessible and relaxed live theatre experience for kids and families of all abilities and backgrounds. 

With weekday and weekend shows available, World Festival of Magic is a fantastic, complimentary excursion for schools and families.

Please see the attached '2025 World Festival of Magic Flyer' for further details (in PDF and JPEG formats for your convenience).

Rockingham Youth Centre

The City of Rockingham is pleased to launch Beyond Breakthrough - a new, free performing arts program designed to support young people aged 12–24 in building their confidence, professional skills, and industry awareness to pursue creative careers.

About the Program

Running over seven weeks in Term 3, Beyond Breakthrough is a dynamic, hands-on program that focuses on employability and capacity-building for young people with an interest in performing arts, including theatre, acting, music, and creative industries.

Participants will:

• Explore personal branding and how to market themselves as emerging artists
• Learn audition preparation techniques and professionalism
• Build communication and public speaking skills
• Connect with industry professionals and university representatives
• Participate in an excursion to the Rockingham Theatre Company for a behind-the-scenes experience
  

Program Details:

Location: Rockingham Youth Centre

Time: Fridays, 3.30pm – 5.30pm

Start Date: Friday 15 August 2025

Age Group: 12–24 years

Cost: Free

Please use the QR code in flyer for further information.

Saver Plus program—a great opportunity to receive up to $500 in matched savings to help cover your child’s education costs.

Not only does Saver Plus provide financial support, but it also helps families build lasting budgeting skills. These benefits ensure children are equipped with the resources they need for school, while also supporting long-term financial wellbeing.

🎓 Saver Plus – Get $500 for Education Costs

Saver Plus is a free 10-month savings and financial education program that helps eligible families save for education expenses. Developed by ANZ and the Brotherhood of St Laurence, and delivered by The Smith Family and receives funding from the Department of Social Services, it’s designed to build long-term financial wellbeing.

💡 Program Highlights:

• Save $50/month for 10 months and receive $500 matched savings
• Use funds for laptops, uniforms, books, camps, excursions, and more
• Complete MoneyMinded financial education online workshops
• No fees to join
• Support provided throughout the program

✅ Eligibility:

• Must be 18+ years old
• Hold a Health Care Card or Pensioner Concession Card
• Receive an eligible Centrelink payment
• Have a child in school or be studying yourself
• Have regular income from work (you or your partner) inc child support and carers payments
• Not completed the program previously.

📞 Contact & More Info: To learn more visit the Saver Plus program page or call 1300 610 355.