From the Principal's Desk

Dear Monty South community,

Great to be back at school yet again for Term 2. In many ways, Term 1 2021 seemed like Term 5 of 2020 as we warily returned after Christmas with the Covid threat still hanging over us. By the end of the 10 week term, the students, staff and I am sure parents were very tired and ready to relax. The perfect weather just added to that much needed holiday feel. This term seems to have started in a more relaxed fashion and it was great to welcome back our school cross country event and Year 5/6 interschool sport. Just another sign that while life has changed in many ways, some of the things we love to do, are coming back.

Another of those aspects was the ANZAC ceremony at Montmorency RSL on Sunday. Our school was well represented by our school captains, Phoebe Hogan and Ben Maywald, who as part of the ceremony laid wreaths on the stage at the RSL, along with a number of other schools and dignitaries. Respectful and aware of what the day signified, I felt so proud of both of them. Thank you to Ben who gave up his game of footy and Phoebe who was late for her soccer game to be part of it and their parents for giving up their Sunday morning.

I should add a thank you to the students who purchased ANZAC Day badges from Phoebe and Ben, who sold them every day last week for Monty RSL. They managed to almost sell out of items, a fantastic effort!

Additionally, it was great to see a few ex-students partake in the ceremony. Emma Thomson and Lincoln Novak recited the Flanders Field poem representing the Montmorency and Lower Plenty Scouts and Mitch Hall laid a wreath representing Montmorency Football club.

Cross Country

Thank you to our parent community and wonderful staff for their efforts last Thursday to make the school cross country come together. So many of you volunteered for roles and a special mention to Luke Whitmore who took on the lead bike role all day.

A very heartfelt and special thanks is given to our wonderful P.E. teacher, Laura, for her magnificent organisational skills that ensured the day ran like clockwork. Well done!

Personal Leave

I am taking some personal leave for the next 2 weeks commencing 26th April. I will return on Wednesday 12th May. Whilst I am on leave, Naomi Ivers will be Acting Principal and Monique Rankin, Acting Assistant Principal. Both will do a wonderful job, along with our incredible staff. The school just runs itself.

Introducing School Council

President - Marcus Walsh

I am proud to be elected the school council president again in 2021. Despite a challenging 2020, I was pleased in my first year as president to see through our four-yearly school review and the end (finally) of our new school rebuild, culminating with that amazing school fete just before the COVID lockdowns began. I was also pleased with the positive and helpful parent engagement through the survey that the school conducted in between lockdowns, and in the way school leaders responded – in what must have been a very trying and stressful times for all teachers. In 2021, I am keen school council continues to reflect parents and community perspectives at its meetings. As such, if you have any ideas or issues you think we should be aware of or discuss at our meetings, please send me an email at mspscouncil@gmail.com

School council members and positions

President: Marcus Walsh

Vice President: Danielle Lee

Treasurer: Vanessa Edwards

Leanne Sheean, Naomi Ivers, Mitchell Dintinosante, Emma Di Pietro, Shayley Holland, Jane Plunkett, Steve Gartner, Nghiem Tran and Cecilia Ramsdale

MSPS Achievers

Thumbs up to our Term 1 Chess Club medalists. These medals are awarded to the best 3 performances over the term. Our winners were:

Gold - Gabe Tran

Silver - Gideon Tran

Bronze - Edison lee

Fantastic effort!

State Swimming Carnival

Congratulations to Genevieve who finished 7th in the state in backstroke and Jessika, Hope, Ava and Charli who finished 4th fastest in the state in their relay. An incredible achievement girls, we are beyond proud of you all!

P and F Movie Night - Thursday 24th June

An exciting event! 'Abominable' and 'Spies in Disguise' are the two movie options. Students will vote from these two options through noisiest cheer wins at assembly.

Trailers of the movie options will be shown at assembly. Stay tuned for further details in coming weeks.

Yard supervision before and after school

The school provides staff supervision for students from 8:45am each morning and until 3:45pm each afternoon. Students who arrive at school prior to 8:45am are required to be in Before School Care (OSHC) or supervised by a parent. Students who require supervision must be booked into After School Care (OSHC). Of course, there may be one off events after school or issues specific to your family that you need school support with, please don’t hesitate to either contact the office, our assistant principal, Naomi Ivers or myself.

Important dates coming up

5 May - P&F Mother’s Day stall
6 May - MSPS Open Day 9:30am -11:30am
11-13 May - NAPLAN Years 3 and 5
12 May - Prep Melbourne Zoo excursion
13-14 May - Year 1 Hands on Science incursion
14 May - National Walk Safely to School Day

Please note, a list of dates can be found both on the Compass calendar and on our website.

Best wishes,

Leanne Sheean