Greetings Families of MPWPS,

It’s Term 4! I welcome you back to another exciting term of learning with most of it onsite. We are channelling optimism! I can see the end to Remote Learning and look forward to welcoming our students back to their school. We are happily preparing for their arrival.

We have applied for and been granted a variation to the Department of Education’s COVID Roadmap which will allow all our F/1 classes to be onsite from Oct 18th. This is so pleasing as it enables a degree of normality for the students as they rekindle friendships and teachers reset learning goals. A ray of positivity and hope!

Once the F/1 and Year 2 have commenced, the 3/4 and 5/6 attend in a staggered arrangement then all students will be onsite from Friday November 5. Yeahhhh! It will be joyous to hear student and staff voices across the school yard and in the classrooms.

Parents and carers, you are to be acknowledged for the role you have played in Remote Learning. It couldn’t be easy as you or your children have days of struggle. On the other side you have had time to get to know your child as a learner and support their ability to be flexible, frustrated and satisfied. I hope that the journey has enabled you to see the developments of your child’s independence.

Please look for our email later this week entitled Parents Guide to a Staggered Return to school. All important information will be in this document.

Communication from school

COMPASS, the Newsletter and the School Website are our main forms of communication, so it is important to read these documents so that you don’t miss opportunities to contribute and or give feedback. I am strongly committed to responding to your comments and or suggestions. Did you remember we have a process for expressing Concerns or Complaints? This process helps you be able to get an answer from the school in a reasonable time. I included a link to the document below so you can be informed. My motto is to view any concern or complaint as an opportunity for us to improve or to provide a chance for our partnership to gain depth as we work to reach a ‘third alternative’ resolution. I welcome your partnership!
Management of Parent and Carer's Concerns and Complaints Policy

School Nurse visit

All government schools have a visit once a year for the Foundation students. The School Nurse will check hearing, sight and general development. It’s not compulsory, just an opportunity. The School Nurse forms will be distributed on Monday October 18th and will need to be returned by October 25th. I urge support for this wonderful service that is free.

School Dress Code Review

As you will know we have been reviewing the School Dress Code all year. All policy reviews are conducted by the School Council through the Education Committee made up of parents and teachers.

As a result of the first survey to canvas opinion on the Dress Code we received 259 replies from 318 families which is 81% of our community. It is a topic of interest as many would guess. To ensure that all views have been captured the School Council has asked the Education Committee to seek further information around compulsory/non-compulsory uniform hence the current survey on COMPASS. All responses and information gained will be combined to form a recommendation to School Council in relation to the Dress Code Policy. It should be noted that if there are any changes to the Dress Code Policy, School Council will communicate all aspects of the policy and an implementation timeline will be considerate of all relevant aspects. Thank-you to the parents who formed the Focus Group, to the Education Committee and all families that have participated in the gaining of opinion thus far. Stay tuned.

Well, that’s about it from me. Stay well and safe at your place and we look forward to seeing your smiling faces very soon.

Regards

Kerri Simpson

Your Principal

2022 School Year planning

Foundation Enrolments 2022

If you are yet to enrol your child for the 2022 school year please do so as soon as possible.

Enrolment forms can be emailed out to families or collected from the General Office. We are currently finalising our 2022 enrolments.

Not returning to MPW in 2022?

If you are not returning to Moonee Ponds West in 2022, please can you inform the General Office at your earliest convenience. Please complete the attached form which can be emailed to: moonee.ponds.west.ps@education.vic.gov.au

Community Calendar

October

November

December