Dear Monty South Community,

Reminder Pupil Free Day, Friday 10th June & Public Holiday, Monday 13 June

Just a reminder that this coming Friday will be a Curriculum Day and therefore a pupil free day. The following Monday 13 June is the Queen’s Birthday public holiday. We hope you all enjoy a long weekend.

Sorry Day – 26th May

Thursday 26th of May, was National Sorry Day. This day gives people the chance to come together and share the steps towards healing for the Stolen Generations, their families, and communities. The first National Sorry Day was held on May 26, 1998, which was one year after the tabling of a report about the removal of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children from their families. The report, known as Bringing Them Home, acknowledged that Indigenous children were forcibly separated from their families and communities since the early days of European occupation in Australia. This year our school captains and vice captains had the privilege of attending the Nillumbik Council National Sorry Day ceremony.

Uncle Ian Hunter gave a Welcome to Country then students from different schools gave acknowledgments and statements about their understanding of Sorry Day. Uncle Ian then held a smoking ceremony. The day finished with a reconciliation walk through the park. National Sorry Day acknowledges the strength of the Stolen Generations survivors and gives us a chance to think about how we can play a part in the healing process.

National Reconciliation Week

National Reconciliation Week which started on Friday 27th May is an annual celebration of respectful relationships shared by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and other Australians. It is a time for all Australians to learn about our shared histories, cultures, and achievements, and to explore how each of us can contribute to achieving reconciliation in Australia. All our students participated in classroom activities that celebrate our wonderful Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander history and culture.

Final enrolments due for Prep 2023

Please be reminded that enrolments for Prep 2023 are now due. If you are still to submit an enrolment form for siblings of current students, please do so asap. Acceptance letters will be sent out before the end of this term.

Junior Concert – 2nd & 3rd August 2022 at Eltham High School

As previously advised our junior concert “Beyond the Beanstalk” dates and venue have changed. It will now be held at Eltham High School Auditorium on:

- Tuesday 2 August (Students Yr 1-3 and Choir Yr 4-6, with surnames A-K)

- Wednesday 3 August (Students Yr 1-3 and Choir Yr 4-6, with surnames L-Z)

Costume information remains the same for Class items and Lead Performers.

Class Items – see attached

Lead performers’ costume is the same, including the times on the new date

Any queries please email Jude Barry on behalf of the Performing Arts Team - Judith.barry@education.vic.gov.au

Request for help from the school community

Under the new school building is a wonderful storeroom that we are unable to fully utilise due to poor access and an extremely uneven surface. We are looking for help from our community to make this into a usable and safe space as soon as possible. The task will require some excavation work and levelling of the surface in this storage space. We are limited to pedestrian doorway access and the works will need to be carried out by hand.

Anyone with an interest, skills and equipment to undertake this job can contact Jenny – Jennifer.vergers@education.vic.gov.au or Kirstie Kirstie.Lay@education.vic.gov.au for more information

Parent’s and Friends’ Group

The Parents & Friends (P&F) Group is an essential part of Montmorency South Primary School and is primarily responsible for fundraising to better improve the facilities at school for our children. It is fun, social and rewarding to be a part of this group. Parents and carers of students are welcome to join the monthly meetings on the 3rd Wednesday of every month or find out how you can get involved by contacting secretarymspspf@gmail.com

School Photos

Apologies for the delay this year getting school photos back to families. As you may be aware, high covid case numbers meant a second photo day had to be scheduled for last month. We anticipate photos will arrive in approximately two weeks’ time. At the latest, please expect photos to come home during the last week of the school term.

Attitude to School Survey for Year 4-6 students-AtoSS

We value student voice as a means to improving student engagement, wellbeing and quality instruction and are conducting a survey to find out what your child thinks of school.

The AtoSS is an annual student survey offered by the Department of Education and Training to assist schools to gain an understanding of students' perceptions and experience of school. Students will be asked about their thoughts and feelings in relation to their school, their learning, peer and family relationships, resilience, bullying, mental health and wellbeing, physical activity, and life in general.

In our experience, young people enjoy having their say. We have been running this survey for nearly 20 years and it has been invaluable in helping schools understand student views. Your school will use the survey results to plan programs and activities to improve your child's schooling experience.

This year, the AtoSS will be conducted at our school over the period Wednesday 8th June- Friday 17th June. Parents/ carers who wish to opt out of their child/ren participating, are asked to send an email to montmorency.south.ps@education.vic.gov.au by Wednesday 8th June, 2022.A copy of the survey is available at the office for parents to view, if they wish to see it before making a decision.

MSPS Achievers

Congratulations Cooper Haynes has made it to the last round of selection for the state primary school football team and will try out for a final place on Thursday. The team will be announced on Friday. All the best Cooper!

Dates for the diary

This week - Friday 11 June – Curriculum Day (Pupil free day)
Monday 13 June – Queen’s Birthday Public Holiday
Tuesday 14 June – School Council Meeting
Wednesday 22 June – Parents and Friends group Meeting 7.30pm (All welcome - contact secretarymspspf@gmail.com for meeting details)
Friday 24 June – Term 2 ends / 2.30pm finish
Monday 11 July – Term 3 starts

Leanne Sheean

Principal

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Montmorency South Primary School acknowledges traditional owners of country throughout Australia and recognises the continuing connection to lands, waters and communities. We pay our respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and to elders both past, present and future.

‘Montmorency South is an inclusive learning community where students are inspired to be respectful, creative, curious and independent learners.’

Our Belief:

We believe that every person in our Montmorency South school community has the capacity to assist each student in attaining our vision.

Motto - Together we learn, lead and achieve

Montmorency South PS Newsletter

Issue 8 · 08 Jun 2022

In this issue