SCHOOL COUNCIL

This week, the Annual General Meeting for School Council took place and we now have our Office Bearers in place for each of the sub committees.

The role of School Council is to:

assist in the efficient governance of the school
ensure that decision affecting students of the school are made having regard to the best interests of the students
enhance the educational opportunities for students at the school
ensure the school and the council complies with any requirements of the Act, the Regulations, a Ministerial Order or a direction, guideline or policy issued under the Act.

OFFICE BEARERS

We welcome and thank the following members for their role on School Council:

School Council President: Sandra Maxfield

Vice President: David Funston

Secretary: Elisa Blackman

Treasurer: Luda Unitt

All School Council members join a sub committee where the main body of the work takes place. Our committees and members are as follows (with the first person listed being the convenor of the committee):

Finance- oversee the monthly income and expenditure of the school and adherence to finance policies.

Members: Luda Unitt, Bianca Baker-Smith, Helen G, Chellee Plumb, Sandra Maxfield

Education – update policies on a cyclical basis, review school performance data and communicate / consult with parent community on a needs basis.

Members: Fiona Sewell, Elissa Blackman, Meera Pothanuttu, Alicia Oliver Cook

Canteen and Uniform – review school uniforms, uniform shoes and second hand stall, uniform policy and the running of the canteen including profit and loss statements, menu items and adherence to Council guidelines.

Members: Bianca Baker-Smith, Sue Hunt, Chellee Plumb

Social and Fundraising – organise and run a range of fund raising events to supplement the school budget (including the bi-annual carnival) and social events to maintain community connectedness.

Members: Kim Payne, Laura Bainbridge, David Funston, Jonathan Doncovio, Lucy Dunshea

Facilities- review general school maintenance and future development both in the short and long term, organise and run working bees.

Members: Bruce MacDonald, Ishan Cooper, Chellee Plumb

Working Parties of School Council

On occasion there is a need to enlist the help of further community members to address items raised from school council. For example, a working party has been formed to support the Social and Fundraising committee to organise the biennial carnival.

We’d like to thank the following people who’ve already made significant progress on the carnival working party: Sally Brady, Philippa Holland, Fiona Boyer, Chris O’Neil.

Please keep an eye out for the regular posts in the fortnightly newsletter about the carnival and the many ways you can help. The saying ‘many hands make light work’ is particularly relevant when it comes to running a carnival.

NATIONAL DAY OF ACTION AGAINST BULLYING (NDA)

Last Friday our school once again participated in targeted activities to raise awareness about the impact of bullying. Students learn strategies throughout the year as part of the wellbeing programs, however the National Day of Action shines a light on the ways we can stand together to put an end to anti social behavior. The NDA also provides a timely reminder to students (and parents) of the importance of reporting cyberbullying and other unethical behaviour online.

Many anti social behaviours at school are ‘age appropriate’ but students still need to learn how their behaviour impacts on others. This is where parents and teachers work together to support the child to understand how behaviours both good and bad, link to enhancing or hindering relationships.

Over the past few years, students have become much more proactive in reporting negative behaviours to teachers which results in issues being addressed quickly and relationships restored. On occasion, students need longer term support to manage relationships, so strategies are negotiated between the concerned parties with teachers following up regularly.

You only have to walk around the school at recess or lunch breaks to know that our restorative approach to developing social skills is creating the positive and inclusive culture we are all enjoying. This year’s theme for NDA is ‘Kindness Culture’ which we believe goes hand in hand with our Harmony Week activities.

HARMONY DAY

Harmony Week started with a special assembly on Monday with a performance by 2B who sang a song titled ‘R U OK?'.

Christien from the Global Citizenship team then informed our community, ‘Harmony Day is about diversity, inclusiveness and a sense of belonging. When you dress in orange or your cultural background on Harmony Day people can see the beauty in your culture. Some may ask what diversity is about; it's the different cultures in our community. Many people have migrated to Australia so we should look further to learn about them and the ways they do things differently to us’.

Christien’s talk was followed by some year 6 leaders performing a Chinese Dragon parade to the beating of drums.

Lunch time activities for Harmony Day allowed students the opportunity to create a mural to represent challenge and change, two things all people have to face, particularly those moving to a new country.

It was fabulous to see so many of our students enjoying cultural dress and wearing orange.

EASTER BASKETS & RAFFLE

Thank you to Laura Ellett for offering to coordinate our annual Easter raffle this year. This has been a long standing tradition at MPS and our students look forward to that special assembly on the last day of term when all the raffle tickets are drawn. There are only two more weeks left to bring in Easter donations and sell the raffle tickets. Each class has a basket to collect the donations for the Easter hampers, so students can either bring their Easter goodies to the office or to their classrooms. We’re more than happy to provide another booklet of raffle tickets for those who wish to purchase more.

Please return the sold tickets and money in an envelope (with name and phone numbers clearly printed on the ticket butt) to the office.

VACCINATIONS FOR STUDENTS

Unfortunately the COVID -19 vaccination rates for children aged 5 to 11 years has not reached the same level of adults which is a concern with winter approaching. Please consider vaccination for your child as further protection against coronavirus. Mask wearing in primary schools will continue for students, staff and parents until vaccination rates increase.

Chellee Plumb

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