Malibu School eNewsletter

Principal's Pen

Dear families

In my 23-year career with the Department, this is the school that has most felt like a family. A family of deeply committed individuals with a fierce and shared passion for what they do for the most vulnerable of children. The level of staff commitment to your children is observed through visible genuine care and compassion, as we see each child grow, overcome a challenge or accept an offered hand. It is the faces of staff who wear mixed emotions of pride and sadness when we farewell our leaving and graduating students.

Since 2021, we have delivered on our promise to strengthen our secondary senior pathway programs, have introduced whole-school enterprise education, aboriginal education, literacy and now commencing a consistent approach to numeracy learning. Our Senior Secondary programs offer a range of options, with a focus on fostering a strong transition beyond Malibu School. We have torn down demountable and created new learning areas, with more engaging areas planned, and we have ensured that there are systems and processes in place to keep our learning continuity when faced with teacher changes.

I am very proud of what we have created over the last few years and proud of the staff in the knowledge what has been built, will be sustained, and further enhanced.

My sincere appreciation to every family member who has walked beside me in the roles on the School Board or P&C. Your wisdom, experience and generosity to share your time, has been very appreciated and has made a difference to our school.

My wish is that Malibu continues to be acknowledged for how exceptional our people are, and how valued this school is, to our students, families and our system, and that the high standards for our students, ourselves and what can be will always ensure Malibu School is a place of inclusion.

I will remain forever grateful for the experiences I've had, the families and exceptional educators I've worked with, the learnings I've had and the gift of seeing what is possible, every day.

I know you will continue to support each other, and Heather, as she kindly takes on the Principal role until the end of term, before welcoming the incoming principal in term 2.

Thank you for letting me share in your lives and I wish you and your family every success ahead.

Merrilee Wright
Principal

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!

Parent and Carer Survey

P&C News

The P&C will be holding their AGM meeting on 26th March at 9:30am and everyone is welcome! During the meeting we review and celebrate our years achievements and make goals for the year ahead. At the AGM all positions are open and anyone is welcome to nominate. Becoming a member does not mean you have to take on an active role, there is no pressure! Becoming a member allows you to know what is going on in the P&C and have a say and vote in what we do.

Last weekend we held a Sausage Sizzle at Bunnings Rockingham. It was lovely to see lots of familiar faces visit and support us. A special mention to the Dodsworth family for all the planning that went into organising the event, it was a roaring success and we raised $2300 towards our fundraising goals.

A final farewell and thanks to Merrilee as she heads off on her new career adventures. We thank you for your help in organising and setting up Malibu's first P&C and your support of our children over the years. We wish you all the best.

Kellie Down
P&C President

Changes to Therapy provider requirements

Changes to Therapy provider requirements have been made by the Insurance Commission of WA, and we want to let you know how this might affect your child’s therapy at school.

Effective immediately, all therapists must have "public liability insurance cover of not less than $20 million for any one occurrence, with unlimited coverage in the aggregate." The Insurance Commission of WA has confirmed that multiple insurance providers can offer policies meeting these requirements. This change affects all schools.

To ensure your child continues to access the support of your preferred therapist at school, we are reviewing all therapy access requests submitted for the 2025 school year, to ensure they comply with the new standards. If your child's therapist’s application does not meet the updated requirements, we will send you and your therapist, an email notification. Access to therapy on the school site will be paused until your therapist provides an updated copy of their public liability insurance policy to the school.

Thank you for your understanding and support during this transition time.

Malibu School Community Calendar

The Malibu School Community Calendar is your reference to special events and celebrations.

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!

An Exciting Start to the Year!

What a fantastic start we've had to the Kindy adventure in 2025! Our youngest learners have jumped into their new routines with enthusiasm, curiosity, and plenty of joy. From the moment they stepped into their classrooms, their bright eyes and eager hearts have embraced every new experience with open arms.

Exploring and Playing!

The playground has been a buzzing hub of activity as our Kindy kids have bounced, swung, and climbed their way through their first few weeks. The trampoline has been a favourite, with little feet soaring high into the air while giggles filled the space. The swings have become a place for laughter and excitement as each child takes turns soaring back and forth. And who could forget the sandpit? Our little ones have loved digging, building, and exploring the endless possibilities the sand offers. The climbing area has also been a hit, with children showing off their growing confidence as they reach new heights.

Creative Fun Inside the Classroom!

Indoors, we've been busy learning and creating in many fun ways! Morning circle time has been a highlight, filled with energy and laughter as the children danced in bubbles, sharing their groovy moves and dancing to their favourite tunes.

Learning our names is going to be an important part of our journey. Each child has had the chance to see their name and recognise it, using BigMacks (AAC devices) to say their name aloud proudly. This has been a magical moment of self-discovery and confidence-building! We've also enjoyed looking at our reflections in mirrors, helping our children learn about themselves and their own growing identities.

Books, Counting, and Adventures!

Storytime has been full of wonder! So far, Our favourite books have been "Spot at the Farm" and "I Went Walking", which have transported our children to new places with simple, beautiful stories and engaging pictures. The children have loved pointing at animals on the ALD boards and exploring the story props.

Math activities have been a fantastic learning experience, too! Our Kindy kids have explored bond blocks, using them to count and build. They have also pretended to feed animals with pom-poms. Each pom-pom was counted carefully, helping our little learners build early math skills while having fun.

Crafts and Creativity!

The craft corner has been a busy and colourful place! Our creative Kindy artists have worked on various adorable projects, including painting muddy pigs, making pig from handprints, and creating their own paper plate cats and ducks. The children have also loved making handprint whiskers, a perfect way to bring their animal crafts to life! Every piece of art is a special treasure, showcasing each child's imaginative ideas and unique talents.

Building Friendships and Connections

Perhaps the most heartwarming part of our Kindy experience has been watching our young learners build new friendships. Through shared play, teamwork, and creative activities, the children have begun forming meaningful connections with each other. These friendships are already making their Kindy journey even more unique, and we can't wait to see these bonds grow stronger as the year goes on.

What an incredible start to the Kindy year! From outdoor adventures to indoor learning, our little ones are thriving and having so much fun. This is just the beginning of all the exciting moments and new experiences that await.

We look forward to continuing this adventure with all the outstanding learning and growth in the coming weeks.

Stay tuned for more updates on our Kindy journey! There's much more fun ahead! 🌟

Bec, Mel, Hollie

We have welcomed 7 new full-time students to Pre-Primary this term – Ziggy, Andre, Seraph, Harrison, Bam, Sonny and Jaxon. Commencing full time schooling is a huge adjustment and the staff in J2 are so proud of how quickly everyone has settled into their new classroom and routines. Quiet time is definitely required by the afternoon however as the weeks progress, the endurance of each student will no doubt increase. It has been lovely getting to meet all the families either face to face at drop off or pick up, via Seesaw messages or at our recent IEP meetings.

Our theme for this term is “Under the Sea” and we have begun decorating our classroom with shades of blue, coloured seaweed, scuba divers and starfish. Students have started participating in emergent literacy experiences including exploring the alphabet and listening to stories. Our new “Bond Blocks” program has also commenced, and students have enjoyed exploring the tactile blocks. Specialist programs become a big part of full-time schooling and the Pre-Primary students are learning how to transition to Science, Cooking, Gardening, STEM, Music and Art every Wednesday. It is a super busy day with lots of learning taking place.

Looking forward to a fun filled and busy year in Pre-Primary.

Shelly, Jacky and Annette.

Middle 2

Exciting Learning Adventures in Middle 2

This term in Middle 2, we have been settling into our new classroom and making the most of the wonderful outdoor space just beyond our window. With the recent spell of fantastic weather, we’ve taken full advantage of our grassy area, exploring a variety of sensory trays and our brand-new water play table. This has been a huge hit with all our students, offering both fun and hands-on learning experiences.

Inside the classroom, each student now has their own set of TEACCH trays, allowing them to engage with their learning at their own pace. These trays provide structured activities that support independence and confidence in their work. Adding to the excitement, we’ve introduced Bond Blocks, an award-winning maths program now used across the school. Our class has shown great enthusiasm, eagerly watching demonstrations and beginning to engage in guided play and activities.

In literacy, we’ve been diving into the wonderful world of Mo Willems, enjoying stories about a very cheeky pigeon! Inspired by these tales, the students— with just a little help from staff— have decorated their own colourful pigeons, which are now proudly on display in our classroom.

It’s been a fantastic start to the term, and we can’t wait to see what new adventures await us!

Mary, Careen, Denise, Mary, Elle, Anne-Marie

Second hand uniforms!

COMMUNITY NEWS

South West Metropolitan Parenting Partnership

Coaching support competition

If you're between the ages of 12 and 25 here is an opportunity to win Learn2Adult one-on-one coaching

Disability National Championship

Entries Open for the 36th National Tenpin Bowling Championship for Persons with a Disability

The Championship will be held at Zone Bowling Morley from 4–14 June 2025

Entries can be sent to ADTiEntries@outlook.com , and questions regarding the event can be directed to secretary.adti@gmail.com .

https://tenpin.org.au/entries-open-for-the-36th-national-tenpin-bowling-championship-for-persons-with-a-disability/

SAVER PLUS

Could you use an extra $500 for education costs? We know that cost of living pressures are continuing to put extra stress on households, with families in particular feeling the effects.

What is Saver Plus? Eligibility applies

Saver Plus is a program for people on lower incomes. It’s about bolstering their financial skills, so they can develop (and keep) good savings habits.

Since 2003, Saver Plus has supported more than 62,000 people to start saving.

It’s helped overcome the barriers around education expenses. And it’s helped set them up for a brighter future.

What are the eligible savings goals?

Eligible savings goals are education related products or services that: