Principal's report

Dear Parents, Carers, Students and Community members of Moonee Ponds West PS

Foundation Transition

Dear Parents, Carers, Students, Staff and Community members,

What a fun night we had last Friday night when the Year 2 students came to stay!  Whilst I did not actually stay on Friday, I was here to wave them off on their walk and to welcome Supreme Excursions for the Hip Hop session. Thank-you to Year 2 parents who encouraged their child/ren to stay, and to the staff of the 1/2 team and the additional staff from other classes, who stayed and assisted.  I believe some of the teacher’s beds would have rivalled the Princess and the Pea story!

Planning for 2020

 We are in the very thick of planning for 2020.  I am at present finalizing the staffing profile and working with staff to determine the best class structure for learning.  Our numbers are in the middle of a flux, with the enrolment boundary having a bit of impact.  As a result, we have a bulge at Year 1 and 2 and so this has necessitating staying with twenty-one (21) classes rather than my preferred twenty (20).   The class structure will be multi-aged classes of two-year levels together, and will replicate the structure we have this year with Foundation/1, 1/2, 3/4 and 5/6.   We have some staffing changes for 2020 which is enabling us to recruit I am hoping for that this will be an opportunity for our school.  Some staff members are choosing different pathways next year like;  starting a family(congratulations to Amy Robinson and Bree White both due in 2020) exploring further study (Masters or PHD for Patrick O’Connor) and others exploring senior education opportunities with a private provider (congratulations Maddie Carter who is pursuing Netball instruction at the VET and VCAL level with SEDA).

I thank those teachers for their time and instruction of students whilst at Moonee Ponds West and wish them every success whilst away from our school.

Parent Forum

Student Engagement Re-Scheduled! We have had limited responses for our Parent Forum on Friday November 1st 2019.  Rather than cancel this important connecting opportunity, we are choosing to reschedule to THURSDAY November 7th at 9.10 in the Community Room.  We have adjusted the Eventbrite invite.  At this session Barb Springfield will outline the opportunities we provide at school to enhance student engagement and wellbeing.  We have a number of outside services, employed by the school that you may not know about and could access either now or in the future. Coffee and biscuits are a certainty.

Curriculum Day

Monday November 4th No Students on this day.  This is our final Curriculum Day for 2019. On this day, we are working collectively on our assessment and achievement of students.  Teachers will be exploring our Writing Rubric and understanding how to use this tool for reporting and feedback purposes.   We will be working on and off site on the day.   If you require Childcare on the Curriculum Day, please contact Camp Australia to see about their provision.   Provision does depend on numbers.  Friday December 20th is also a student free half day held against time in lieu for staff. Our final day with students for 2019 will be December 19th and we will dismiss at 3.30 as usual. Again, Camp Australia will offer care on this day if numbers require.

Chess Awards

My humble apologies to all the Chess participants from last term. I now have the awards, put them on the desk on Friday, and then promptly forgot!  I will be presenting the awards for Term 3 on Monday November 11th.  Parents of Chess participants put this in your diary!

Lost Property

We have had a number of jumpers and tops placed in Lost Property over the past week.  In fact, one of the student helpers mentioned a number like 98 pieces of clothing picked up from the oval over the last week aghhh!!!  Many wardrobes must be nearly bare!

Children please keep checking the Lost Property for any of your items.  We want to be sustainable and reduce our footprint. It starts with the lost property!

Australian Mathematics Competition Update

I have received news that the certificates for 2019 are on their way!  We have the school results, which seem to support an improvement.  Please be patient.  We will send them home as soon as we receive them.  I hope that all students from year 3 to 6 will participate next year. 

Well that is about it from me.  Enjoy this little taste of summer.

Sincerely and in good faith

Kerri Simpson Principal (Acting at Moonee Ponds West PS)