Welcome Back

It is always exciting to start a new school year after an extended Summer break. The longer time away from school enables everyone to recharge the batteries and engage in things that we all enjoy.

Welcome back to all of our students who are returning to MPS and a very special welcome to all of our students who are starting at Marlborough for the first time, especially our Foundation students who have made an amazing start to their primary education. It has been great to visit all of our classrooms each day this year and see how settled everyone is already. The start of the school year always brings new opportunities for friendships to flourish and new learning dynamics to develop.

February Events

Over the next two weeks, we have a number of important events. Our 'Welcome BBQ' on February 19th is a great community event where we reconnect as a community and enjoy some fun and games as a whole school. Our Parents Association will be running a Sausage Sizzle as their first event of the year with all funds going to our outdoor spaces and playgrounds.

Our Information Nights are an important opportunity for families to get an insight into the year ahead for their child. These sessions provide an overview to the year, how you can support your child and key dates for events.

Information Night Time:

Tuesday, February 11th: Years 3/4 6:00 pm & Years 5/6 6:45 pm
Wednesday, February 12th: Foundation 6:00 pm & Years 1/2 6:45 pm

Facilities Update

We have a number of key facilities projects occurring over 2020.

Playgrounds/Outdoor Spaces - After developing our Grounds Master Plan in 2019 we have the first of our new playgrounds being installed this week. This will be our new 1/2 Playground once completed with our Foundation students inheriting our existing 1/2 playground which is more centrally located within the school. Across this year we are also aiming to remove the playground at the front of the school and create a community meeting space/outdoor art room - Our year 5 and 6 students will be involved in designing this space as part of their Numeracy learning and the final design will come from their work. We will also be aiming to host one Working Bee each term to improve an area of our school.

Toilets - Last year we were provided with funding to renovate our student and staff toilet facilities. I am waiting for final approval from the VSBA (Victorian School Building Authority) at which time we will be able to finalise designs and begin working on these. This will take time and cause some disruption across the school day, however, we will keep interruptions to student learning as minimal as possible.

Sensory Garden/Passive Play Space - It was wonderful in the last few days of 2019 to have our Inclusive School application selected. This will transform the area between our Administration and 1/2 building into a space that will provide a wide range of play and relaxation opportunities.

2020 Bell Times

To accommodate an additional class this year we have arranged our school day differently. Recess will be running from 10:40 am-11:10 am with lunch eating time at 12:50 pm and students outside for lunch break between 1:00 pm and 1:50 pm. We have divided our learning into 3x100 minute blocks across the day.

Rubbish

I sent a Compass message home last week about how in 2020 we will not be allowing students to take food wrappers into the playground at recess and lunchtime. This is to combat the rubbish in the yard which became quite an issue last year. We will not be placing bins out in the schoolyard and teachers will be helping students to not take food wrappers outside and instead put their rubbish in the classroom bin. Items where this can cause an problem is packets of chips or similar items. These can be placed into a named plastic food container at home and brought to school where the container can be taken outside and either left outside their classroom door when finished or put into bags for our 5/6 students.

On Friday's we will place one bin next to the canteen. Students will be asked to sit and enjoy their canteen purchases next to the Canteen and OSHC room where they will then be able to place their rubbish into a bin before heading off to play.

2020 Staff List

We have a dedicated staff at Marlborough Primary and I am including our complete staff list for our community's reference. Across 2020 we will not be operating with an Assistant Principal as we have in recent years. When I am off campus Simone Ryan, our Learning Specialist, will be in charge and will be able to contact me in the event of a serious emergency.

2020 Staffing List:

Principal – Neil Butler

Foundation A – Lisa Reiner (Teaching and Learning Leader)

Foundation B – Lisa Rosthorn/Amanda Rethus

1/2A – Melissa Den Elzen (Teaching and Learning Leader)

1/2B – Anna Bondini/Lisa Mackney

1/2C – Matt Johnson

3/4A – Sheena Cronin (Teaching and Learning Leader)

3/4B – Katelin Baker

5/6A – Simone Ryan (Teaching and Learning Leader & Learning Specialist)

5/6B – Nathan Baxter

5/6C – Michelle Mielnik

Leadership Release - Jaime Irvine

Visual Arts – Jenelle Seregin

Performing Arts – Megan Richter

P.E. – Bonny Chisholm

Indonesian – Mary-Ellen Dowling

Business Manager – Alison Tonkin (Mon-Wed & Friday)

Office Administration – Tanya Dearsley (Tues - Thurs)

Educational Support Staff

Tracy Mullenger
Jane Barnes
Amber Kim
Elyse Heeger
Nicole Robb

OSHC Coordinator – Jane Barnes

OSHC Accounts – Rebecca Trevillian

Dates to remember