Welcome.

What an exciting start to the new school year! The first day was filled with joy as students and parents reconnected, sharing stories from the holidays and their aspirations for 2025. As I visited classrooms, I was truly impressed by how quickly our students have settled back into school routines. Our new staff members have also expressed their admiration for the outstanding manners and respect demonstrated by our students—undoubtedly a testament to the wonderful parenting and the high standards upheld by our school community.

This week, our new Prep students are meeting individually with their teachers for English and Mathematics online assessments. We can’t wait to officially welcome them to school on Tuesday 4 February!

Exciting Improvements Completed Over the Summer Break!

While students were enjoying their holidays, several upgrades were carried out across the school to enhance our learning environment. Here are some of the key improvements:

✅ Vegetable Gardens Revamped – The overgrown weeds around the Learning Centre’s garden beds have been removed, and crushed rock has been installed between the beds. This will make access to the raised vegetable patches easier while also reducing future weed growth.

✅ New Automated Watering System – To ensure our gardens stay healthy during holiday breaks, an automated watering system has been installed. A new pump has also been added to the water tank, prioritising the use of rainwater for sustainability.

✅ Weeroona Road Fence Line Refreshed – Weeds along the fence have been replaced with weed mat and mulch, creating a tidier and more manageable space. The crepe myrtle trees, planted during last year’s working bee, are now in full bloom and looking fantastic!

✅ Senior Playground Shade – Construction of a new shade structure over the senior playground is progressing well and is on track to be completed by the second week of school, providing much-needed sun protection.

✅ New Air Conditioners Installed – Students attending the holiday program have already been enjoying the benefits of the newly installed air conditioners in the hall, making a noticeable difference on hot summer days.

We’re thrilled with these upgrades and look forward to seeing students and staff benefit from them throughout the year!

EDUCATION DEPARTMENT PRIORITY- Phonics

Schools across Victoria are introducing a structured phonics program to provide students with explicit instruction in letter names and sounds. At Murrumbeena Primary, we have been implementing this approach for the past four years. Our Prep to Year 2 teachers use the MSL (Multisensory Structured Language) program, and we ensure all staff are trained in this method.

To maintain consistency, teachers new to our school or those transitioning to Prep – Year 2 will participate in MSL training on Friday 7 February. On this day, their classes will be supervised by our school leaders and intervention teachers to ensure continuity in learning.

Creating Positive and Engaging Learning Spaces at MPS

Each year, students eagerly anticipate meeting their new teacher and working together to establish classroom routines that foster a sense of belonging and happiness. They also have the opportunity to contribute their ideas on how their efforts should be acknowledged and how behavioral expectations should be managed.

During the first few weeks of school, students participate in the Learning to Learn unit, engaging in activities that teach them how to collaborate effectively in pairs and groups, as well as strategies for problem-solving. This process leads to the creation of an Essential Class Agreement, a shared set of expectations developed by each class.

This year, we are enhancing our approach by incorporating the Education Department’s Positive Classroom Management Strategies (PCMS). These eight evidence-based practices will further support student learning, wellbeing, and behavior, ensuring our classrooms remain safe, structured, and conducive to success.

JOIN US FOR OUR OPEN AFTERNOON: (Friday 14 February 2:45 – 3:30pm)

After settling into their new classrooms, students will be excited to introduce their parents to the teacher and proudly showcase their learning environment.

We warmly invite parents and carers to our Open Afternoon on Friday, 14 February, from 2:45 to 3:30 pm. This is a wonderful opportunity to meet your child’s teacher in person and get a glimpse of the classroom and school where your child enjoys learning and playing. We look forward to seeing you there!

SCHOOL PICNIC- save the date: Thursday 20 Feb

We’re excited to welcome families to our Annual School Picnic on the oval on Thursday, 20 February from 5:30 to 7:30 pm.

Bring along a picnic dinner, a rug or chairs and enjoy a relaxing evening with your family over dinner. This event is a fantastic opportunity to reconnect with familiar faces and meet new members of our school community.

Fingers crossed for the same beautiful weather we had last year—we look forward to seeing you there!

PERMISSION FORMS TO BE COMPLETED

Every year, we inform parents and seek permission around a range of school related activities. At the end of last year, these forms were handed out and thank you to the numerous families who have returned them.

Permissions include:

Local excursions form. (Teachers will still advise you before an event if they are leaving the school grounds).
ICT Acceptable Use Agreements. (Students will not be able to use digital technologies until this form has been signed by the student and their parent).
Photography Recording/Publishing consent. (Even if you sign the form, we will always phone you and gain permission if we use a photo or short video on our school website).

If you haven’t yet returned signed permission forms, or you need another copy, please get in touch with the office.

Student Representative Council (SRC) – Encouraging Leadership and School Spirit

The Student Representative Council (SRC) is a student-led group that fosters leadership and school pride while giving students a voice in their school community. SRC members are expected to uphold high standards of personal conduct and lead by example through their words and actions.

As part of their role, SRC representatives participate in initiatives that improve both the physical environment and overall culture of our school. In previous years, members have successfully identified and implemented positive changes, raising the SRC’s profile and inspiring more students to get involved.

To ensure a fair opportunity for all students, we follow these selection guidelines:

Students cannot be elected if they were an SRC member the previous year.
A student may serve as an SRC representative once in junior school (Years 1–2) and once in senior school (Years 3–6).

It’s important to note that SRC meetings are held during lunchtime, and while many students are eager to participate, others prefer to use this time for play. We fully respect their choice.

We look forward to another year of student leadership and positive contributions through the SRC!

Chellee Plumb

From The Library