NEWSLETTER 16/2018

Dear Parents,


Term 4 already!!! As they say, time flies when you are having fun. I trust all of our students enjoyed their term break and are refreshed ahead of a massive Term 4. Over the holiday break, the staff have worked hard to ensure the teaching and learning programs will be engaging and reflect the needs of our students. A considerable amount of care goes into the programs we deliver so that they cater for a broad range of interests and enable all students to focus on their own point of need. A significant component of this is our approach to reading. I know that I raise the topic of reading regularly, but we know that by developing independent readers, we guarantee our students a bright future. According to research, students who read for 67 minutes per day achieve, on average, in the 98^th percentile in terms of general academic achievement. This is why it is expected that all students read 7 days a week as the cornerstone of their homework. The books that they choose to read should be relatively easy for them to understand, so that they are not needing help to read every 5^th word. We will do the instructional part at school, but at home, we want them to embrace reading and simply enjoy a good book. If we can work together as a school community to ensure that all students are reading, be that in 5 minute bursts, in long stints if that works or to help settle before bed time, then we will undoubtedly see positive results for every student.

Enjoy the term.

KINGSTON COLOUR RUN

Plans are well and truly underway for the highly anticipated Kingston Community Colour Run hosted by Mentone Park PS on Sunday November 18. Your PFA are doing an amazing job coordinating the event that promises to be a highlight, not only for our school but the entire Kingston Area. To assist with planning and organization please make sure you get your tickets early. Tickets are selling fast so please tell friends and family, share social media posts and help us to make this event one to remember.

WORKING BEE – THIS SUNDAY OCTOBER 21

With the success of our front garden works our school Buildings and Grounds Committee will be holding our next Working Bee this Sunday with a focus on rejuvenating the eating area and garden beds between the middle school and the hall. There will be planting, digging, painting and trimming work as well as some general gardening and presentation work around the rest of the school. We kick off at 10 so if you can spare an hour or two it will be greatly appreciated. We will also fire up the BBQ for a “Better than Bunnings” sausage sizzle at 1pm.

CONGRATULATIONS LIAM

On Thursday October 18, Liam competed in Regionals and received 1st in shotput, 2nd in long jump and 3rd in 100 metres.

We wish Liam all the best when he represents Mentone Park Primary School at the State Championships in shotput and long jump on October 29.

2019 CLASSES AND TRANSITION
Preliminary work around staffing and class selection has already begun and we will soon be running a number of transition sessions for students to experience what the next level has to offer. During the next few weeks of the school year, students will participate in a transition program to prepare them for the following school year. It is our aim to provide all students with a flying start to 2019 through this program. Of course, we will be seeking the cooperation of the parent community to ensure this program runs smoothly. We ask that all families give the grades a chance to settle, as it has been our experience that once students begin to familiarize themselves with their new class, some of their initial anxiety is reduced. This is one of the key reasons behind running a transition program for all year levels. Our goal is to ensure that students can enjoy the summer break, confident in the knowledge that they are ready for the next phase of school.

Grade Selection

In order to clarify the process of grade selection I have included a criteria below to help shed some light on what can sometimes be seen as a clandestine operation:

Factors influencing class structures are:

•  the educational needs of the students (point of need);
•  the projected number of students in each year level;
•  the ratio of girls to boys;
•  the number of teachers employed at the school;
•  resources and facilities;
•  academic performance – evidenced based;
•  work habits e.g. ability to work independently;
•  behaviour;
• social network /friendships;
• social maturity;
• special needs e.g. twins, siblings, confidential family information.

Based on the criteria listed above, teaching staff and administration meet regularly to establish classes for the following school year. Teachers ensure each new class has:

•  a balance of academic ability;
• gender balance;
• socially balanced groups;
• behavioural balance.

During this process, changes and adjustments are made over several weeks. Each change may trigger a chain reaction of other changes due to friendship groups or the balance of each classroom.

Proposed class lists are submitted to the Principal and Assistant Principal for final ratification. Once balanced classes are formed, the teachers are allocated to the class we feel will offer the “best fit” with a particular group of students. Determining class placements is a complex task and staff members undertake a considerable process to ensure that the best possible placement is made to meet each student's educational needs. Whilst every effort is made to ensure that every child’s point of need is met, it is important to understand that with so many factors to consider it is not possible to accommodate every request. 

NO TRASH TUESDAY

Our Green Gang would like to remind all families about No Trash Tuesday. Where possible all food is to come to school in a container, helping to eliminate rubbish from our yard.

ENROLLMENT FOR 2019

Don’t forget that you can pick up an enrolment form from the office if you have a child starting Foundation in 2019. As I have mentioned previously we already have a number of new families enrolled for 2019, many of whom have heard positive feedback from the community about our wonderful school. We have also organised a special gift for our newly enrolled Foundation students.

LET US KNOW IF YOUR CHILD IS AWAY

If your child is away from school can you please either Flexibuzz or call the office to let us know as soon as possible. Many of you will remember the recent media attention around this issue and due to a change of policy, schools will be required to notify parents when a child is absent. Your assistance with this will help us make sure that all students are safe.




Best wishes
Cameron Agars
Principal

CLUBS AND EXTRA CURRICULA ACTIVITIES

FROM THE OFFICE

Spare clothing

Please ensure that you pack extra underwear and clothing for your child/ren.

We are more than happy to assist with showing you how to use Qkr and Flexibuzz.
Please feel free to phone or come into the office if you have any questions.

Please check Kids Café for all lost property items.

There are a large number of unnamed containers and other items.

PFA

CLASSROOM CUISINE

AVAILABLE WEDNESDAYS & FRIDAYS

SCHOLASTIC BOOK CLUB

Dear Mentone Park Families,

Welcome to another year at school and the beginning of a new issue of Scholastic Book Club catalogues!. Orders can be left with the office or please order via the online ordering system called  “LOOP”  - details are in the catalogue. When ordering there is an option to mark as a gift if you would like your order sent to the office instead of to class for your child to take home.

To families new to our school the Scholastic Book Club generates reward points which we claim back throughout the year as new books and resources for teachers to use in class. Each book club order earns 20% in rewards points – they soon add up! Scholastic often have some great books on special for as little as $2, so look out for their “gold coin books” in the catalogue

If you need any assistance please don’t hesitate to contact me via the school office or call the Scholastic Customer Service number 1800 021 233.

Best wishes

Jenny O – Book club coordinator

Dear Parents,

If you have any preloved MPPS uniforms please drop these off at the office. If you would like to purchase any items for a very reasonable price, please send a text to Megan or Jess to arrange a meeting time.

We have different items coming in all the time so if we didn't have what you were after last time you checked, it might be worth trying us again.

FREE TO A GOOD HOME!

 

Second hand school windcheaters in various sizes.

If you need a spare windcheater for these freezing days, please come and help yourselves.

Thank you

Megan: 0404 228 320
Jess:    0411 031 589

Working With Children Check Reminder

All parents/guardians, visitors & volunteers to the school MUST sign in & out of the school and display their WWCC in a lanyard, which is available at the school office.

The Department of Education requires any person involved in an activity where children may be present to have a current WWCC or have supplied proof that they have applied for a WWCC with the Department of Justice. All schools are required to comply with the Working with Children Act 2005.

Volunteers are expected to carry the WWCC card on their person at all times when working or volunteering at the school or during school related activities.

There is no fee for this check. Apply now by visiting: www.workingwithchildren.vic.gov.au

COMMUNITY MESSAGES & ADVERTISEMENTS

The Department of Education & Early Childhood Development and Mentone Park Primary School do not endorse the products or services of any private advertiser. They accept no responsibility for accuracy of information contained in advertisements or claims made by them.