From the Principal

SUNSMART REMINDER

Even though the weather is still cool, the number of sunny days will be increasing so it’s that time of the year to wear sunscreen and hats every day.

Students without a hat will be instructed to play in the allocated shaded areas. Students are also reminded to wear a hat (and sunscreen) by their teachers before leaving the classroom and once in the yard, they are not allowed to re-enter the building.

A sunsmart school hat is available in the following styles:

broad brimmed hats – with a brim of at least 7.5 cm
bucket or ‘surfie-style hats' – with a deep crown and brim of at least 6 cm
legionnaire hats with a flap that covers the neck. The side flap and front peak should meet to protect the side of the face.

Appropriate hats are available through PSW located on North Road Ormond. PLEASE remember to label hats with the child’s name so they can be returned if temporarily lost.

2026 Class Placements

The process of placing students into classes for next year is already underway. As you can appreciate, this is a thoughtful and time-consuming process that considers each child’s social, emotional, and educational needs to ensure balanced classes across the year level.

The Google Form for class placement input has already been sent to families, and we ask that it be completed by Monday 27 October 2025. If the form isn’t submitted by the due date, teachers will speak with students directly about who they learn well with and complete the form on their behalf, so that every child’s voice is included in the process.

Parents are asked to have a conversation with their child about the peers they learn well with and who contribute positively to their sense of belonging at school. Each child will list 3–5 peers they work well with—these names are not ranked. It’s important that parents review and support their child’s selections before submitting the form.

A reminder that each year is treated as a new year, and previous requests are not automatically carried over. Students grow and change, so if a particular request remains relevant, please include it in this year’s form so it can be considered as part of the placement process.

If your child will not be attending MPS in 2026, please let the school know as soon as possible so we can adjust our planning accordingly.

For further information, please refer to our Class Placement Policy available on the school website (or click here )

Update on the BYOD Program

Our Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) program began in 2019 for Years 5 and 6 and later expanded to Years 3 and 4 following the pandemic. After researching devices that best meet students’ educational needs through to secondary school, our school selected Chromebooks as the preferred device. This year’s Year 3 and 4 students have used Chromebooks successfully, with positive outcomes for both learning and digital skill development.

Following last week’s parent information night, the Victorian Government announced that from 2027, schools will no longer invite families to purchase devices, and new screen time recommendations will apply (including minimal use in Prep–Year 2 and a maximum of 90 minutes per day for Years 3–6).

Understandably, this has raised questions for current Year 2 families. After careful discussion, School Council has confirmed that the Chromebook purchase for 2026 will proceed. The decision reflects that:

2026 will be the final year students are able to bring their own device, and it will serve them for their remaining primary years.
The school does not currently have class sets of devices to replace BYOD in 2026.
2026 will allow time to plan and prepare for the transition to a school-managed model from 2027.

CURRICULUM DAY

Our Curriculum Day will be held on Monday 3 November (the day before the Melbourne Cup).

The curriculum day is a ‘pupil free day’ so there will not be any school attendance.

The teachers will be working together to moderate judgements against the achievement standards in readiness for end-of-year reporting. When determining the achievement standard, teachers use a range of information sets, including, but not limited to: participation in lessons, submitted student work and analysis of a range of assessments.

Theircare will be offering their service for students who need supervision on this day.

PREP TRANSITION

Preparations are well underway for welcoming our 2026 prep students into the school. An information evening will be held on Wednesday 5 November for the 2026 prep parents providing them with an understanding of how the school operates, how to become involved and how to prepare their children for the move to primary school.

The following Tuesday (11 Nov), our new preppies will be having their first transition visit and will continue each Tuesday culminating in the statewide transition day for all students on Tuesday 9 December.

We know our school community will welcome new families quickly making them feel a part of the school.

Portables Upgrade Planned

We are incredibly grateful to our families for their ongoing voluntary parent payment contributions, including to the tax-deductible donations to the Building and Library Funds. Thanks to your generosity, we’ve been able to revamp and modernise many areas of our school over the past five years.

Your support has made a real difference — recent Parent/Caregiver Survey results show that 95% of respondents believe our school has clean and well-maintained facilities and grounds.

Our next focus is the portable classrooms, which are ready for a well-deserved refresh. We are currently obtaining quotes for painting, new pinboards, carpet, and updated furniture. This refurbishment will ensure our junior primary students and teachers have a bright, inviting, and modern space in which to learn and play.

Mental Health in Primary Schools (MHiPS) Program

We are pleased to share that our school, as part of the South Eastern Region, will be funded for a Mental Health and Wellbeing Leader in 2026 through the Mental Health in Primary Schools (MHiPS) initiative. The program aims to build the capacity of schools to better support the mental health and wellbeing of all students by providing early intervention, promoting positive mental health, and connecting families with additional support when needed. We are excited about this opportunity and the positive impact it will have on our students, staff, and school community.

Chellee Plumb