The Moorabbin Primary School Community touch the land and think of the Bunurong People and surrounding Clans of the Kulin Nation who cared for the land before us.

We share our gratitude to their Elders past, present and emerging. As we touch this land, we promise to treasure it, taking care of all its people, animals, plants and waterways. We at Moorabbin Primary School appreciate this land. Thank you.

Dear Parents/Carers,

Welcome back everybody to the 2025 school year.

We hope that everyone managed to find some quality time to relax with friends and family during the summer break and that the start of this year has been a positive one for you all. This year, we again welcome new families to MPS across all year levels, including our new Foundation families. We know that the whole community joins us in welcoming you all to our school and trust that your time with us is positive and enjoyable.

Both Mr Corrigan and I have been actively visiting classrooms and on yard duty to ensure we all have a smooth start to the year. It has been a pleasure to see such happy and enthusiastic faces, eager to renew old friendships, make some new ones and get back into our interesting and enjoyable learning. When we have chatted to students, they have shared lovely holiday stories but are looking forward to their new school year. We are also aware that some children may be finding the return to school and change in routines a challenge. Please come and chat with your child’s teacher or Mr Corrigan or myself as if we are not aware that your child is facing any challenge we cannot help. Reach out before things escalate and become unmanageable.

We would like to thank you, the parents, for your efforts in preparing your children so well for the start of the school year. Throughout the year, we will share through the newsletter, the many opportunities that our students have to shine. Our Foundation children will commence school on Monday.

A big thank you to the staff for all the preparations they have made for the 2025 school year, as they have already spent countless hours over the past weeks: the Office and Education Support staff with various administrative tasks, and the teachers setting up dynamic learning environments and forward planning to ensure a smooth start and exciting curriculum for the students this year.

Once again, we have started the year with our ‘Getting to know you program’. The purpose of this is to engage students in a range of activities that help build strong relationships with their teachers and peers, and to establish clear expectations for the 2025 school year. This is a crucial part of the curriculum as it paves the path for a happy and successful year of learning for all students. We know that relationships are at the core of all learning. Having spent the time to form a relationship based on trust and respect and getting to know each other beyond the roles of ‘teacher’ and ‘student’ (interests, family members, friends, experiences, hopes, fears etc.), we are able to truly begin personalising the learning experience for the children we teach. We also look at our TERRIFIC values and establish the routines and expectations of what a good “Moorabbin student learner” looks like and sounds like.

We are looking forward to a productive partnership with you to ensure all children can achieve their highest potential. We recognise that in order to be successful in school, our children need support from both the home and school, knowing that a strong partnership with you will make a great difference in your child’s education. As partners, we share the responsibility for our children’s success and want you to know that we will do our very best to carry out our responsibilities, asking that you guide and support your child’s learning by ensuring:

1. Attendance at school daily and arrival on time, ready for the day’s learning experience

2. Completion of all homework assignments given by teachers

3. Daily reading to develop a love for literature and to improve critical language skills

4. Sharing school experiences with you so that you are aware of your child’s school life

PARENT INVOLVEMENT AT MPS

Working and “learning together” we can achieve great results. In any given year we provide many opportunities for parent involvement within the school: classroom assistance with Reading, Maths, Incursion/excursions/swimming/ camping program yrs 3-6 this year; being a Class Representative; volunteering; and being a member of the Fundraising Committee who do such an amazing job of raising funds for the school and creating a caring culture with numerous events.

Parental support of the teachers and the school’s programs is also vital and includes displaying a positive attitude towards your child’s learning, so I encourage you all to be fully involved in your child’s education. Education is a partnership!

Let’s all work together to ensure the best future for the children that we have in our care. Existing parents will be aware that we run a fortnightly newsletter and many updates via the compass portal. Our newsletter will contain lots of important information, dates and reminders so please be sure to read our newsletters and any notifications that are sent via the portal.

School families will be notified via a Compass alert, which will inform you of the availability of the current Newsletter, Dates to Remember or any important events.

Year levels will be providing a quarterly (once a term at the beginning of each term) overview of what your child will be learning in the classroom for the term ahead. Information relating to a specific year level event will continue to be communicated via Compass and/or our community newsletter throughout the year.

SUNSMART POLICY

In line with the Department of Education Sunsmart policy, all children at Moorabbin Primary School are to wear broad brimmed hats when they are outside during school hours in Terms one & four. Children without hats will be required to stay in shaded areas.

SUPERVISION IN THE YARD BEFORE AND AFTER SCHOOL

Families are reminded that teachers are on duty before school from 8.45-9.00am and after school from 3.30 until 3.45pm. Children should not be unattended in the school grounds before or after these times unless they are there with their parents or carers.

School times Yesterday and today was a great start to the year, with most students being at school by 9am. Well done! Thank you to all those parents and carers who ensure that their children arrive at school, on time every morning. When children arrive on time, they learn routines and the plans for the day, which in turn supports their learning. If children are away from school for any reason, we ask you to let the school know.

This can be through a phone message, via the compass app, a written note or by coming to the office in person. Education Department guidelines instruct schools to contact parents/carers on the day that a student is absent if we have not been given a reason for that absence. This will be done via a text message to you.

“MEET AND GREET” THE TEACHER

Shortly you will be receiving a notice inviting you to book online a ‘Meet and Greet’ session with your child’s teacher. Please be sure to follow the instructions as outlined in the notice and take this very important opportunity to organise a time to meet with the teacher. If you are having difficulty completing this, please speak to your child’s teacher or contact the school. The meet and greet dates are as follows:

Grade levels 1 to 6 - Tuesday 4th February, between 3:50pm – 6:00 pm.
Grade Levels 1 to 6 - Wednesday 5th February, between 3:50pm – 6:00 pm
(due to our some of our team members requiring to attend a professional development session on Wednesday, there will also Thursday 6th February added to only a few classes)

(PLEASE REFER TO THE COMPASS PORTAL WHERE YOU WILL BE ABLE TO BLOCK OUT A TIME SLOT TO MEET AND GREET YOUR CHILD’S TEACHER)

REMINDER SCHOOL SAVINGS BONUS

The School Saving Bonus continues to provide cost-of-living relief to thousands of Victorian families, paying for uniforms, textbooks and activities ahead of the 2025 school year. The School Saving Bonus can be used to buy school uniforms and textbooks or can go towards school activities such as camps or excursions. Around 700,000 students statewide will benefit from the Bonus.

Any unspent Bonus money will automatically transfer to a family’s school account once the uniform and textbook voucher period expires on 30 June, with parents able to use the remaining funds on future school activities. Any funds which remain unspent by the time a student leaves the school can be transferred to a sibling at the school or will be absorbed by the school to benefit other students.

For more information about the School Saving Bonus, visit vic.gov.au/school-saving-bonus

ROAD SAFETY REMINDER

As we step into the new year, I encourage all visiting our site to adhere to the highest standards of safety while driving or moving around our school. As pedestrians, please utilise the staffed crossings in the morning and afternoon periods. It will mean a little bit of a further walk and an opportunity to provide significant modelling experiences for your child/ren.

As motorists, please do not park in our drop off zone during morning and afternoon periods. Our ‘Kiss and Go’ zone provides for quick pickups or drop offs and enable the congestion of traffic that occurs on Wickham and Dane roads to flow more smoothly. Las year we had so many of our parents and carers display some really inappropriate and questionable behaviours in and around the school, lets make sure that in 2025 we display better traffic and road etiquette.

Everyone has a part to play as we ensure the safety of our whole community.

SCHOOL COUNCIL

Information relating to vacancies on School Council will be distributed next week. Please look out for this if you are interested in nominating or being nominated for 2025. Information will include a timeline and summary of the role of School Council. Our next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday 18th February 6.00pm in the staff room.

STUDENT ACCIDENT AND PRIVATE PROPERTY INSURANCE

Please be aware that the Department of Education (DE) does not provide personal accident insurance or ambulance cover for students. Parents and guardians of students, who do not have student accident insurance/ambulance cover, are responsible for paying the cost of medical treatment for injured students, including the cost of ambulance attendance/transport and any other transport costs.

In some circumstances, medical or other expenses will be paid by the Department where it is assessed that it is likely, that the Department is liable for negligent (careless) acts or omissions of its staff/volunteers. For more information about the claims process please go to: http://www.education.vic.gov.au/school/principals/spag/governance/Pages/claimsprocess.aspx

Student accident insurance/ambulance cover policies are available from some commercial insurers and can be obtained by parents/guardians for individual students. The Department cannot advise parents/guardians on whether to purchase a student accident policy/ambulance cover, or which policy to purchase. It is recommended that parents seek assistance in this matter with their insurance broker or find a suitable personal accident insurer in the Yellow Pages or online.

Private property brought to school by students, staff or visitors is not insured and the Department does not accept any responsibility for any loss or damage.

Change of details?

Have you changed your phone number or address? Please inform the office if either of these have changed since last year.

SCHOOL ASSEMBLY CHANGE AT MPS- THURSDAY MORNING AT 11.10-12.00PM IN 2025

Assemblies are a cherished tradition that foster community spirit and celebrate achievements. To better balance learning time and the quality of our assemblies, we’re moving from Friday afternoon to Thursday morning at 11.10-12.00pm in 2025. This change provides:

• Improved Assemblies: Better-planned and more engaging gatherings.

• Broader Opportunities: Time for other valuable programs and activities.

Assemblies will remain a key part of our school culture, and we’re confident this change will benefit students, staff, and families. Our first Assembly will be in Week 3, with the presentation of student leadership certificate and bades.

CHINESE NEW YEAR YESTERDAY

29th January marked the beginning of the Chinese New Year. I would like to take this opportunity to wish everyone in our community who celebrates this significant event a Happy New Year!

Noxia Angelides

SCHOOL SAVINGS BONUS

Click on the links below for information regarding the School Savings Bonus