Principal's Message

Welcome back to Term 4, 2021. 

I hope that families were able to enjoy the sunshine and spend time away from screens.

The MPRPS community also ran an Amazing Race over the weekend and a Pavement Art competition over the holidays.

As you are all aware we have a road map for the return to school for students.

It is going to be a complicated process but our aim is to maximise the teaching and learning for all students while maintaining a safe environment for all.

The staff at MPRPS are keen to be back and had already embarked on the vaccination path. As I have said before if you have to go through a pandemic and lockdowns - there is no better place to do it than at MPRPS.

Weeks 1 and 2 of Term are of course Remote Learning, and then we begin with Foundation and Year 1/2 students returning to school in Week 3 with 3-6 completing Remote Learning.

I would encourage you all to continue with the amazing support of your children and of course staff as we can see the end to Remote Learning is in sight.

Next Monday, 11th October will be a School Council approved Curriculum Day and therefore a Pupil Free Day. No Remote learning or onsite supervision but OSH Club will run for approved families. I apologise for any confusion around this date as we tried to minimise the impact on students.

Events and Calendar Updates

All events moved to Week 6 and beyond due to students moving between Face to Face and Remote Learning. Focus to be on in classroom learning when students are onsite, particularly in the first weeks.

Curriculum Day 4 - moved to Monday 11th October

3/4 Camp - Postponed to 14th December - 16th December.

Curriculum Day 3 - remains on Monday 1st November before Cup Day Holiday.

No Assemblies Week 3,4,5, 6 and 7

Junior Swimming cancelled (2022 program to be held mid year in 2022)

Senior School Production - moved to Week 9 Week beginning Monday 29th November

Year 1 Late Stay and Year 2 Sleepover postponed until later in the Term TBC

School Christmas Concert cancelled focus to be on Senior School Production and 

Year 6 Graduation Thursday 9th December.

ICAS

Due to the current restrictions we have moved ICAS to the following dates:

• Digital Technologies – Tuesday 9th November 7:40am – 8:40am
• Mathematics – Thursday 11th November 7:40am – 8:40am
• English – Tuesday 16th November 7:40am – 8:40am
• Science – Thursday 18th November 7:40am – 8:40am
• Spelling – 23rd November 7:40am – 8:40am

Students will need to be at school by 7:30am on the day of their ICAS test. Students will be supervised across separate classroom spaces to support us in maintaining COVID safe practices. 

At this stage ICAS Writing has been cancelled as we are unable to run the session in the required window of the 5th-15th October. More information on this will be communicated to families via Sentral.

Amanda Nelson and Andrew Shaw 

Year Two 2022 BYOD - Ipad

Information on our Ipad purchase portal has been published in the past few Newsletters, it is of course not necessary to purchase an Ipad using the portal, but some families find this an easier option.

Instead of a parent information session this year we will publish information for Year Two parents and send out via email. In year level information sessions next year the use of how Ipads and digital technology are utilised and cyber safety will be covered.

Information on effects of COVID-19 on children's physical health.

Below is a link to information about COVID-19 for parents. 

Are you worried about your child getting COVID-19? Is Delta worse than the other variants? Should I vaccinate my child when it’s available? We answered these questions and more in a special Facebook live video with our panel of experts from the RCH campus, including Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, on Friday 10th September, 2021.

Parent Wellbeing Session

On Tuesday 26th October between 7pm-8pm we will be running a Parent Wellbeing night via Zoom. Mount Pleasant Road Primary places a high priority on Wellbeing/Mental Health issues with students and we believe this will be a valuable opportunity for all parents and carers from Foundation to Year 6. 

The session will be facilitated by Karen Hall from ‘Wellbeing for Kids’. Karen is a qualified Counsellor, Primary School Teacher, Mindfulness Coach and Facilitator who brings over 25 years of experience in the corporate and education sectors. Karen is currently working as a counsellor in a high school in Melbourne whilst also taking time to deliver different programs within the education sector. She has been working closely with MPRPS to deliver the ‘Peaceful Kids’ program for selected Year 5/6  students.

The one hour session will cover:

• Understanding what anxiety is and how anxiety develops in children
• What are the signs to look out for if you’re worried about your child
• Factors that hinder and help children
• A range of strategies to coach parents to support children and foster resilience
• Links between anxious parents and their children and how to support the family to make positive changes
• Coping strategies and self-care strategies for families during these difficult times
• How to access additional support and who to talk to.

October is also Mental Health Awareness Month, and it has never been more important to help children overcome anxiety and improve resilience. 

We look forward to your attendance on this night and applying the range of strategies and information covered during the session to help support your child/ren.

Zoom details:

https://zoom.us/j/93636805210?pwd=UVUva0lnbVRJbFduUWZsMEhjdGR3QT09 Meeting ID: 936 3680 5210

Passcode: EtwV63