Principal's Report

"I cannot teach anybody anything; I can only make them think."  – Socrates

Step Up Transition Day / Curriculum Day

On Tuesday 13th December, we will be holding a ‘Step Up Day,’ as mentioned in the previous newsletter. Students will find out who their teacher for 2023 is on the morning of ‘Step Up Day’, and spend most of the day with their new teacher, in their new space, and with their new classmates. Staff will spend the upcoming curriculum day on Monday 5th December in their 2023 teams (see Class Structure below) planning a range of fun ‘getting to know you’ activities for students to complete, and looking at the initial 2023 planning.

Being mindful that adjusting to change can sometimes manifest itself in a range of ways, I encourage all students and families to share and reflect on their 2023 placements with a positive mindset. Although sometimes our initial response may be disappointment that we weren’t placed with a specific teacher or with a particular  friend, rest assured that all students have at least one friend from their friendship preferences and that staff developed the class lists with each child’s needs in mind.  

2023 Class/Staffing Structure

Due to last minute enrolment changes across all year levels we have had to change our class structures several times but as it stands we are planning on the following structure next year.  Please note this is subject to change if we receive further enrolments or additional students leave at the end of the year.

Foundation - Helen Edwards

Year 1/2 - Lee Watson (Team Leader) and Haishi Qin

Year 3/4 - Pippa Davis (Team Leader), Lisa Mackney and Sheena Cronin

Year 5/6 - Christopher Kent (Team Leader) and Peter Moore

Physical Education - Bonny Chisholm (Specialist Team Leader)

Visual Arts - Jenelle Seregin

Indonesian - Mary-Ellen Dowling

Science - Casey Phillips (Semester 1) and Simone Ryan (Semester 2)

Tutor Learning Initiative - Natalie Arundel

Education Support Staff - Tracy Mullenger (Team Leader), Jane Barnes, Amber Kim, Nicole Robb, Agnes Ng, Brianna Bradford and Sandi Kelly

Curriculum Learning Specialist - Christopher Kent

Learning Specialist Release - Caitlin Lindsay (Semester 1) and Simone Ryan (Semester 2)

School Chaplain - TBC

Business Manager - Christina Penna

Administration - Natalie Watson

As you can see, we do have some staffing changes for next year. Amelie Fraser was successful in obtaining a position at Regency Park Primary School and Hua Maley is going to start 2023 off doing Casual Relief Teaching, both Hua and Amelie joined us for Term 4 this year and have done a sensational job, given the tricky circumstances of starting at a new school in ‘Assessment and Reporting Season.’ We wish them both the best in their future endeavours.

Anna Bondini will be taking Long Service Leave in Term 1 and then at the conclusion of her leave will be retiring. Anna has been an outstanding community member and contributor to the development of graduate staff at MPS. On behalf of the Marlborough community, I would like to thank Anna for her amazing contributions over the years and wish her well as she tackles this next stage of her life with her beautiful family. 

Melissa Den Elzen is taking a year’s leave in 2023. Melissa has been instrumental in ensuring students with additional needs are supported at school, working tirelessly this year as the Disability Inclusion Leader and in past years as the Tutor. We hope to welcome Melissa back in 2024.

Bianca Zulianello, our school Chaplain, will be leaving us at the end of this year. Bianca has been successful in gaining a School Chaplain position much closer to home. We thank Bianca for all of her hard work and generous contributions to the Marlborough Primary Community over the course of the year, she will be sorely missed. 

Further to this, at the end of the school year I will be finishing up my twelve month secondment at Marlborough Primary and moving on to a primary school in the Lilydale Network after being appointed as their new Learning Specialist. I have loved my time here, making connections with staff, students and the parent community.

In 2023 we will be welcoming Christopher Kent as our new Learning Specialist, Chris is currently teaching at Healesville Primary School and brings with him a wealth of knowledge and skills. 

We will also be welcoming Haishi Qin to the Marlborough community, having recently completed his Masters in Teaching at Melbourne University, Haishi has been spending the last few years as an Early Years Educator and brings this invaluable experience to MPS. 

Casey Phillips will be taking Science for the first semester of 2023. Casey is a familiar face around MPS, having worked as a CRT throughout the year. 

Caitlin Lindsay will be re-joining MPS to release our Learning Specialist on Thursdays in Semester 1. 

Simone Ryan will be taking up Science when she returns from family leave in Semester 2 as well as releasing the Learning Specialist on Thursdays. 

Finally, Natalie Arundel joins MPS as our Tutor in 2023, Natalie is a well-respected and highly experienced teacher who brings with her an amazing knowledge of curriculum and a passion for teaching.

A big welcome to all of the new additions to the MPS family!  We are looking forward to having you as part of our wonderful Marlborough Primary Community.

2023 Session Times

As we bring in the new year, Marlborough Primary will be reverting back to five one-hour sessions and a longer lunch break as detailed below:

Christmas Carols

This coming Thursday, Marlborough Primary will be holding its annual Christmas Carols. Each class has been working hard to learn a series of christmas songs to perform on the night - I have been lucky enough to have heard some year levels in their rehearsals. Carols are scheduled to begin at 5:30pm and conclude at 7:30pm. Hoping for some lovely weather, so we can come with a picnic rug and enjoy the festivities (Sausage Sizzle, Mr Whippy Van etc) and get well-and-truly into the Christmas spirit - See the Parent's Association page for more information.

Pick-up and Drop-Off Reminders

We have received reports of cars driving quickly, and students walking through the staff car park during drop off and pick up times. Cars should not be entering or parking in the staff carpark. The only exception is our students who arrive with their parents and carers who need to use the disabled car parking spaces - and these cars must not drive faster than walking pace. Students are not to walk through the staff carpark for any reason. 

All students must enter the school via the gates at the front of the school. 

Tips for a Smooth Transition to 2023

The following information has been taken from the Department of Education’s parent and carer information about how to support your child start school. These tips are helpful for all families of children beginning school or moving on to a new year level.

During the summer holidays:

• Show your child where the school is and talk about how you will get there.
• Arrange play times with other families whose children will be going to the same school. It helps if your child knows another child at their school at the start of prep.
• Practise the things your child will need to do to get ready for school (e.g. putting things in their bag, remembering to take a hat).
• Confirm your before or after school care arrangements and explain these to your child.
• Be positive about starting school and enjoy your child’s excitement.
• Visit your local library and read books with your child about starting school.

On the first day of school:

• Make sure your child knows who will take them to school and pick them up on the first day.
• Help your child to organise their clothes, hat, shoes and socks the night before.
• Help your child to pack their school bag with a snack, drink, lunch, and a hat.
• Place a spare pair of underpants and a change of clothes in a plastic bag. Let your child know these clothes are in their bag in case of any accidents at school.
• Put sunscreen on your child in the morning if it's needed.
• Show your child where you will meet them at the end of the school day.
• At the end of the day talk to your child about what happened at school. A great way is to ask them what their highlight of the day was.

Early childhood services and schools will organise programs to help your child settle into school. Talk to your child’s early childhood educator or the school.

Further information about starting school for students beginning Primary School as well as Secondary School can be located at https://www.education.vic.gov.au/parents/going-to-school/Pages/tips-starting-school.aspx 

Enrolments

If you have a younger sibling who will be attending Marlborough Primary next year their enrolment should be into school by now. Enrolment forms can be accessed on our website and emailed into marlborough.ps@education.vic.gov.au

As always, if you have any questions, queries or concerns, please don't hesitate to contact me by phone at the school or via email at alec.baroni@education.vic.gov.au.  

 Have a fantastic week!

Alec Baroni

Acting Principal