NEWSLETTER 4/2017

PRINCIPAL'S REPORT

It is hard to believe that we have reached the final newsletter of the term – how fast it has gone which I think is indicative of how much we have had going on.

School Fete

One reason the end of term is creeping up on us is that we have our fete this weekend and it has been a source of great excitement.  While the fun begins at 10am on Saturday we will see a lot of preparation taking place from today.  This week we have seen many volunteers in site involved in the preparation of stalls and events and as of Friday afternoon, the first of the rides will begin to arrive.  This will mean there will be changed conditions at the Blackwood Avenue side of the school.  Well done to everyone involved and we are looking forward to a great day.

Kids Cafe

Mentone Park Primary School has a very unique canteen where food is made and prepared at the canteen.  While we appreciate having this as part of our community, the model requires many hands on deck.  We are now finding the Kids Café is starting to struggle to have those hands on deck.  The reality of our canteen being successful is that we need at least 10 helpers in canteen throughout the day.

To keep our canteen functioning the way it is we do need more volunteers.  Volunteering can be for just an hour, it does not have to be the whole day or even half a day.  Please leave your name and contact details with the office if you are in some way able to support our canteen in the form of food preparation, serving during the breaks or even washing the dishes.

School Council

Later today we will be finalising our School Council for 2017.  Voting closes at 4.00pm today.  Our 2017 School Council will meet for the first time this coming Monday.  If anyone is interested in being part of a School Council Sub Committee (Finance, Education and Buildings & Grounds), please contact the school.

Peter Seddon

Acting Principal

SCHOOL COUNCIL

Dear School Community,

This is my last newsletter as school council president and I am excited that on this day votes will be counted in our biggest election for school council in a very long time! Our newly elected councillors will join the council next Monday night and new executive positions will be decided at that meeting. Although I remain on council for another year as part of my two-year term, I will not be standing for the school council president position.

It has been a year to remember as school council president!

The opportunity to work with three different principals has been amazing. We have been lucky at Mentone Park to have such high-quality leadership available to support us through this transition to our new principal starting next term. Particular thanks again to Peter Seddon as he leaves us soon.

The re-location of the kinder has also been exciting and it is great to see the collaboration between all the stakeholders begin and to be involved to advocate for Mentone Park Primary School. This re-location will be a fantastic outcome for the school and for our local community.

The finalisation and opening of the new Middle School learning area was another great development overseen by the school council. It has been exciting to see the school continue to evolve and respond to emerging research on student learning needs and effective teaching practice.

As well as these major outcomes, the council has continued to do the regular work such as; overseeing strategic direction through review of strategic planning; managing school budgets and finances; maintaining buildings, grounds and facilities; and reviewing and updating policies to reflect the needs of our school.

I would like to thank the councillors that have been committed and hardworking during my time as president. Due to the unusual circumstances, they have willingly attended longer and extra meetings and are always available for advice and support outside meeting times. So, Andrew Davis, Nicky Langhorne, Peter Olechnowicz, Lisa Grimsey, Maria Fakitopoulos, Scot Martin, Martin Walker, Mary Sampieri and Alison Lough – Thank you!!

Thank you also to all the other many parents and friends who commit their time and energy to making our school a better place. There are so many opportunities to support our school to do the best for our kids. No more obvious example of some of this work than the amazing fete that we will all experience this Saturday! The dedication and team work of many to bring this huge event together exemplifies our community.

I would also like to acknowledge the fantastic work of our teachers and staff. It has been a challenging year in many ways and they have always risen to the challenges and continued to improve the learning opportunities for our students. If you haven’t seen the recently released schools 2016 NAPLAN results yet, go to www.myschool.edu.au to see the amazing improvements we are experiencing thanks to their hard work. And of course, that is just a snapshot to demonstrate what our students are achieving. Particular thanks to Alison Lough and other teacher leaders who have stepped up to ensure consistency and to support our acting principals.

Finally, I would like to congratulate you all as parents and families. I am sure many of you chose to send your children to Mentone Park PS because it is a beautiful, community school. We have seen the strength of our community as we have met changes and challenges with resilience and positivity. We all know that life never stays the same and of course this is true of schools too. It has been a demonstration of the strength of our community that when there is uncertainty we respond with support, and trust that those making decisions are doing so with only the best outcomes for the students at the forefront of their minds. In complex organisations, governed by complex but important guidelines and policies, it is not possible to communicate the full scope of every decision. But that when there are questions and concerns they are generally raised respectfully is a credit to our community and an essential lesson for our students. I have appreciated every person that I have had an opportunity to communicate with over my time as president and love the passion that we all share for our great school.

Looking forward to a fantastic remainder of 2017 for Mentone Park Primary School!

Best wishes,

Fiona Longmuir

SCHOOL FETE

FETE MAP

SCHOOL PHOTOS MARCH 29TH

Wednesday March 29^th 

This year Schoolpix are taking our school photographs.

Payment can be made online through SchoolPix

Sibling Photo forms can be collected from the office.

GOOD FRIDAY APPEAL 2017

SATELLITE CLUB

FROM THE OFFICE

              

Dear Parents & Guardians,

Thank you to the families who have already returned their Student Enrolment Information Forms and other consent forms. This is a busy time of year for everyone and we really appreciate your assistance with returning documentation to both the office and to your child/ren’s teachers.

Please note all signed permission forms and any payment must be given directly to your child/ren’s teachers. This allows the teachers to check and mark off each child’s permission form and payment.  

Spare clothing
Please ensure that you pack extra underwear and clothing for your child/ren. Due to OHS guidelines, we are no longer allowed to provide underwear.

Please feel free to phone or come into the office if you have any questions.

We are more than happy to assist with showing you how to use Qkr and tiqbiz .

Thank you

Administration Team

SCHOOL BANKING

PE

2017 Team Vic State selection process

Dear Parent/Guardian,

The following is to provide you with information about the School Sport Victoria Team Vic trials for 12 years and under teams in the sports of Australian Rules, Netball, Football (Soccer) and Basketball for 2017. To be eligible to participate in the trial process,

• students must be nominated and endorsed by their school initially
• each of these children needs to register online, if they wish to proceed.

Each school is only allowed a maximum of three (3) students for each sport mentioned above to attend these trials so it’s important that as a school, we acknowledge the capacity and ability of these nominated students to be able to participate well in these trials.  It needs to be emphasised that these trials form part of School Sport Victoria’s Gifted and Talented program and are not ‘come and try’ opportunities.  Each child is trialing for a State Team and as such we must attest to each child’s athleticism, skill level and school behaviour.

You are invited to register your child for selection to trial, if you so wish.  Please be aware that registration costs $25 per sport.  Please go to the following link to access the registration page and information https://www.ssv.vic.edu.au

Please be aware the Football (Soccer) and Basketball teams will participate at the same time at Pacific School Games so it is only possible to select one of these sports.

Parents if you have any questions please see Miss L.

Miss L

P.E. Teacher

OSHCLUB

SCHOOL UNIFORM

Year 5 & 6 Sports Tops are now available in store Retail Price $44.95

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 SERVICE & ANNOUNCEMENTS

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.

NEWSLETTER 3/2017

PRINCIPAL'S REPORT

Acacia Kindergarten Community Information Session

Last week Mentone Park Primary School played host to the City of Kingston as it officially met with families of both our school community and the kindergarten community.  The session provided background on the origins of the venture, the decision making process on the preferred location of the kinder and some of the temporary measures that will need to be in place while it is being built.  The venture from an educational perspective was well understood and supported, it is the operational structures, car parking and traffic that is of most concern to the community.  These are very important factors and there needs to be crucial collaboration between all parties involved in the planning to determine a suitable proposition.

Maps outlining the preferred location of the kindergarten, the re-location of the playground and temporary staff parking are available from the school office.  Part of this stage is to seek community feedback on alternate ideas for any of these three locations – please feel free to draw over the map with your own ideas and bring it back to the school office.  We will pass them on to the re-location working party.

It is also at this point in time of the venture that the school would like to establish its own sub-committee that becomes the liaison between the project working party and our community.  If you would be interested in being on this sub-committee please leave your contact details at the school office.

Staffing

Thank you Mr Horn

A big thank you to Kenny Horn who completes his final week at MPPS this week.  Although Kenny was not the successful applicant for the position for the remainder of the year, I along with the families of his cohort appreciate the way he went about building relationships and establishing learning expectations for his students during the time that he was here.

Parents in the Middle School will be informed about the arrangements of initially meeting with the new member of the Middle School team, Jessica McDonald and subsequent individual meetings.

Thank you also to Mrs Millard who is not leaving us completely but will no longer be part of our assemblies.  The pleasure of being a grandmother has taken over this time.  Mrs Millard will still be with us as part of our instrumental program.

Baby news

This week another member of our Middle School team shared the news with her class of her pregnancy.  While the staff have known this for a little while, I would publicly like to congratulate Maddie Oates and her partner, Peter on this fantastic news.  As a fellow parent with you all, we all remember the moment we found out our first child was on the way.  I am sure everyone will congratulate Maddie in person when the opportunity arises.  Maddie will be with us at MPPS until the end of Term 2.  During that term arrangements will be made in replacing her for the remainder of the year.

Maddie’s news comes not long after the similar news of Hope Laycock.  Hope will be with us until the end of Term 1 and coming back for a very brief time in Term 2 before taking her leave.  We will keep the community informed about Hope’s replacement as it eventuates.

Welcome Pattie

I extend a huge warm welcome to Pattie Lombard who takes over as Business Manager for the rest of the year in Anne’s absence.  Pattie joins us from Elsternwick Primary School and brings a wealth of experience in a number of areas.  Please take the time to say hello to Pattie anytime you are in the office.

School Fete

The countdown has been going for a while but when we get to the point that the fete is not this weekend and not the weekend after BUT it is the weekend after that … we are getting close enough to be excited.  Again, the fete is the product of a collaboration of people, the parents behind the organisation, the parents contributing on the day, the families responding to bringing items in to school, the teachers and the students.  I’m not sure who is in charge of organising the weather but fingers crossed we get it right.  I look forward to seeing as many families on the day as possible enjoying the wonderful community celebration.  Some fete reminders are in Alison's report below, and keep checking for the weekly Fete newsletter.

Student Lead Assemblies

Over the past two weeks the Year 6 student leaders have moved in and made assembly their own.  It is a work in progress but it is definitely an initiative worth celebrating.  The enthusiasm and dedication that the students have already shown in not only setting up and presenting an assembly but the ideas they are bringing forward needs to be commended.  While this is making assemblies for students, by students, it is also an opportunity for growth and development.  Nerves were a big factor in the first couple of weeks, however by focusing on strategies that we had discussed, the students have been able to identify aspects for improvement.  I congratulate the students on what they have achieved so far, not so much for how the assemblies have gone but for their willingness to acknowledge what they need to work on, their support of each other and their enthusiasm.  Looking forward to this week’s.

School Council Nominations

Nominations for School Council vacancies closed this Wednesday and we have more nominations than vacant positions.  This means that we will need to hold an election to determine our parent positions for the year.  Information regarding the ballot will come out to parents/carers next week. 

Peter Seddon

Acting Principal

ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL'S REPORT

FETE REMINDERS

Don’t forget to read the FETE newsletters coming home each week for the latest challenges! Just a reminder that unlimited ride wrist bands are now available to be purchased via Qkr. Prices are outlined in the FETE newsletter. Please note, individual rides are $7 each (or $7 for two slides on the Giant Slide).

There are rides for all ages – some Junior, some Senior and some for both. See the FETE newsletter for a list of all the rides!

There will also be Pony Rides on the Soccer Field, but the wrist bands do not include the Pony Rides. There is a $5 fee per ride on a pony! Giddy Up!



We hope the children are all getting their throwing arms ready for the ‘soapy throw’ where they’ll have a chance to hurl a wet sponge at their teachers!!

WELLBEING AWARDS

This Friday we will begin our assembly awards program for 2017. This year, awards are based on the qualities we are aiming to instil in our students that will lead to intrinsically motivated and self-managed children who do the right thing because it’s the best thing to do!
There are two types of awards, the first based on 8 qualities of successful learners which ties in with our Mentone Park Learner Profile, in developing key personality traits required to succeed at school and in life. These qualities are:

• Good Manners
• Courage
• Tolerance/Acceptance
• Persistence/Resilience
• Compassion
• Friendliness

Students who are deemed to have achieved a personal best in one of these areas during any given week, can receive this award at assembly.

The Second award, once again for a personal best achievement, is based on the five key concepts that are being taught through the Play is the Way program (Wilson McCaskill).
These key concepts are:

• Treat others as you would like them to treat you
• Pursue your personal best no matter who you work with
• Be brave – participate to progress
• Have reasons for the things you say and do
• It takes great strength to be sensible

We look forward to presenting the first lot of these awards at assembly tomorrow! 

Alison Lough

Assistant Principal 

SCHOOL FETE

SCHOOL PHOTOS MARCH 29TH

Please mark Wednesday March 29^th in your calendar

This year Schoolpix are taking our school photographs.

Schoolpix photograph information will be sent home shortly.

SATELLITE CLUB

FROM THE OFFICE

              

Dear Parents & Guardians,

Thank you to the families who have already returned their Student Enrolment Information Forms and other consent forms. This is a busy time of year for everyone and we really appreciate your assistance with returning documentation to both the office and to your child/ren’s teachers.

Please note all signed permission forms and any payment must be given directly to your child/ren’s teachers. This allows the teachers to check and mark off each child’s permission form and payment.  

Spare clothing
Please ensure that you pack extra underwear and clothing for your child/ren. Due to OHS guidelines, we are no longer allowed to provide underwear.

Please feel free to phone or come into the office if you have any questions.

We are more than happy to assist with showing you how to use Qkr and tiqbiz .

Thank you

Administration Team

SCHOOL BANKING

PE

2017 Team Vic State selection process

Dear Parent/Guardian,

The following is to provide you with information about the School Sport Victoria Team Vic trials for 12 years and under teams in the sports of Australian Rules, Netball, Football (Soccer) and Basketball for 2017. To be eligible to participate in the trial process,

• students must be nominated and endorsed by their school initially
• each of these children needs to register online, if they wish to proceed.

Each school is only allowed a maximum of three (3) students for each sport mentioned above to attend these trials so it’s important that as a school, we acknowledge the capacity and ability of these nominated students to be able to participate well in these trials.  It needs to be emphasised that these trials form part of School Sport Victoria’s Gifted and Talented program and are not ‘come and try’ opportunities.  Each child is trialing for a State Team and as such we must attest to each child’s athleticism, skill level and school behaviour.

You are invited to register your child for selection to trial, if you so wish.  Please be aware that registration costs $25 per sport.  Please go to the following link to access the registration page and information https://www.ssv.vic.edu.au

Please be aware the Football (Soccer) and Basketball teams will participate at the same time at Pacific School Games so it is only possible to select one of these sports.

Parents if you have any questions please see Miss L.

Miss L

P.E. Teacher

OSHCLUB

SCHOOL UNIFORM

Year 5 & 6 Sports Tops are now available in store Retail Price $44.95

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 SERVICE & ANNOUNCEMENTS

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.