It is an honour to be appointed as the Principal of this wonderful school, and I am truly grateful for the opportunity to continue leading such a wonderful school community. Over the past 2 terms as Acting Principal, I have been continually inspired by the dedication of our staff, the enthusiasm of our students, and the strong partnerships we share with families.

I look forward to working together as we build on the school’s strengths and continue to create a positive, inclusive, and engaging learning environment for all.

I would like to extend my appreciation to the School Council, staff, students, and families of Mount Pleasant Road Primary School for your ongoing support and encouragement.

Water Safety event LIVE on Compass

The Water Safety Program is an important part of our curriculum and we will be running this year’s whole school program at Aquanation Ringwood. Students will be participating in the Swim and Survive School Swimming and Water Safety program which cover the mandatory curriculum requirements of the Victorian Department of Education and Training.The content of each lesson covers stroke development and personal survival techniques in, on and around water. The skills learnt during the program provide children with a swimming and water safety foundation that may enable them to safely enjoy aquatic activities in a limited range of environments. The opportunity to learn to swim and work with their peers in small groups supports students to increase water safety knowledge when with friends. We also acknowledge that students develop a variety of independence skills when organising themselves across the 9 days and following expectations at an external venue.

Interschool Sport

It was lovely to get down and watch the Grade 4 interschool sport last Friday. The netball games at Sportlink and the soccer matches at Terrara Park were full of energy, teamwork, and enthusiasm. It was fantastic to see our students giving their best effort and representing our school with pride.

Other teams also competed in T-ball and AFL at Elgar Park, and it was great to hear about the sportsmanship and positive spirit shown across all games. These interschool sport days are such a wonderful opportunity for students to develop their skills, build friendships, and enjoy being active in a fun, supportive environment.

Well done to all the players, and thank you to the staff and parent helpers who helped make the day such a success.

ICE Showcase

Today we held our ICE Showcase. Thank you to the teachers, parent volunteers, and students for taking part and sharing the work they've done this semester. It was a great opportunity to see the range of projects and progress made.

Netball

A big thank you to Yana, Eryn, and Treesje for coming down to support the Magic netball team in their semi-final match on Saturday morning. Your presence and encouragement meant a lot to the team!

The girls played with incredible grit, determination, and teamwork in what was a tough and hard fought semi-final. Despite the pressure, they gave it their all and showed true spirit on the court. We couldn’t be prouder of their effort and commitment.

Well done, team Magic!

Leading Instructional Excellence

Amanda and I had the opportunity to attend a two-day professional learning course facilitated by Dr. Nathaniel Swain, focused on Leading Instructional Excellence.

The sessions were rich in insight and grounded in evidence-based practices aimed at improving teaching and learning outcomes. Dr. Swain shared powerful strategies for fostering high expectations, building a culture of continuous improvement, and leading with clarity and purpose in educational settings.

Throughout the course, we engaged in reflective discussions, explored current research, and collaborated with other educators who are equally passionate about driving excellence in schools.

It was an incredibly valuable experience, and we’re excited to bring back what we’ve learned to strengthen our leadership and support the ongoing growth of our learning community.

Update: Digital Device Program for Grades 3–6

Following a recent review of the BYOD iPad program, Mount Pleasant Road Primary School is proposing a shift to school-managed Chromebooks, starting with Grade 3 in 2026.

Why the change?

Feedback from families and staff raised concerns about screen time, distractions from non-educational apps, and the challenges of managing devices at home.
Chromebooks offer a more suitable platform for classroom learning, including easier navigation of web-based tools like Google Classroom.

What’s proposed?
Families would lease a Chromebook through the school for their child’s exclusive use during learning hours.
Devices would remain at school, giving families more choice about home device use.
The cost would be approximately $210 per year, covering the device, software, security, technical support, and storage.

This proposed change aims to ensure equity, safety, and a more focused learning environment. More details on the proposal can be found here.

👉 We’d love your feedback. Please complete our short survey here: Chromebook Proposal Survey

Amanda Nelson

Assistant Princ

Foundation

Today, I had the opportunity to assist the Foundation students in creating their own lunchboxes as part of our Guided Inquiry unit, "How Did That Get in My Lunchbox?" This hands on experience allowed the students to explore the journey of food from source to consumption in a fun and meaningful way.

The students took part in preparing a balanced lunchbox by making their own sandwiches, selecting and cutting fresh fruit, choosing a savory snack, and preparing a simple sweet treat. Each step provided a valuable opportunity to discuss where food comes from, how it’s made, and what makes a healthy meal.

Throughout the activity, the students demonstrated independence and decision-making skills as they selected ingredients, practiced fine motor skills while cutting fruit, and showed creativity in assembling their lunches. This activity was a wonderful integration of literacy, health, and science, and it supported the development of real-life skills in a collaborative way.

Kinder

This week in the kinder, I had the pleasure of watching our 3 year olds enjoying a tea party. It was wonderful to see them chatting, sharing, and taking turns so naturally. These moments highlight the growth and learning that happens through play. Our kinder program continues to expand, offering even more opportunities for children to develop socially, emotionally, and cognitively in a nurturing environment.

Just a reminder next week is our sceond Kinder Storytime session!

Rescheduled date

School Band

Our School Band will be perrfroming at our last assembly on the term at 2.40pm on Monday 30th June. They have been busy rehearsing. Get ready for a real treat!!

See Important Information for news on our free dress day for the last day of term and Kelly Sports after school sessions which will be starting in Term 3.

Wishing everyone a wonderful weekend as we head into the final two weeks of the term!

Claudia

	Term 2 2025	Time

23 June	Year 5/6 Gala Day
25 June	Kinder Storytime	9.30am
3 July	Senior Athletics Day
4 July	Last Day of Term 2 Pyjama Day - Gold Donation	2:30pm Finish


	Term 3 2025	Time
21 July	Term 3 Begins
22 July	School Swimming Safety Program Begins
29 July	100 Day of Foundation

Important Dates

IMPORTANT DATES