Dear School Community Members,

At our Leadership meeting earlier this week and our School Council meeting on Monday night, we were reflecting on the climate and wellbeing of our school community as we come to the last four weeks of the school year. While we stressed the importance of supporting and maintaining the wellbeing of everyone, we discussed the positivity, optimism, alignment and good will of our school community. This positive climate doesn’t just emanate from the ground or occur through good fortune – it is the hard work, effort, commitment, dedication and passion from our students, our families and our staff. Our recent whole school events such as the Colour Run, and the way our community has rallied around a grieving family, speaks volumes of the healthy community spirit within our school. Thank you and congratulations to all members of our school for your contribution to making our school a great place to be!

Mano Writing Expo: All families are warmly invited to our Writing Expo!

Date: Wednesday 29th November

Time: 2:45pm – 3:30pm

Venue: Classrooms, Manifold Heights PS

All students will share a published piece of writing that showcases their writing skills and growth throughout the year. We look forward to seeing families celebrate their child’s writing, as well as that of their class mates.

Grade 6 students: As previously mentioned, this last month of the school year becomes incredibly busy. For our Grade 6s, it is the last month of their primary school education and a step closer to their next phase of life – secondary school. The current cohort of Grade 6 students have made a lasting impression and a fabulous contribution to our school. In fact, each of the Grade 6 students have set a high standard in regards to student leadership, behaviour and application to their learning. Each Grade 6 student should be proud of their achievements at our school – their teachers certainly are! This term, we have continued to remind them of this and their responsibilities as a student of Mano.

I ask parents and families to support and remind their Grade 6 child the importance of maintaining a positive attitude and behaviour over the last four weeks of the school year. I acknowledge and realise Grade 6 students become excited about becoming secondary students and the opportunities this presents. Along with the Grade 6 teachers, I will ensure our Grade 6s are well aware of their responsibilities and our expectations of them as they draw closer to completing their primary education. Your support with this is much appreciated.

Congratulations Mr Davis and Miss Carter: Congratulations to Miss Carter and Mr Davis on their appointment to South Geelong Primary School for 2024. While both Mr Davis and Miss Carter have only been at Mano for 12 months, we are grateful for their contribution and commitment. Thank you and best wishes, Miss Carter and Mr Davis.

School Council: Our School Council met again Monday night where key agenda items included:

Reviewing and updating our ‘Mobile Phone – Student Use’ and ‘Student wellbeing and Engagement’ policies. These are available from our Website.
Our 2023 Staff Survey data was tabled and discussed – we celebrated the improvements in the majority of variables
A discussion was had regarding ‘Drop Off’ and ‘Pick Up’ times and the need to continuously remind our community regarding safety of students – more about this next week

Each of our School Councillors are deeply committed and invested in our school. Please contact them if you have any feedback or concerns (details available from our school website).

Key Dates in November and December

Friday 24th November Curriculum Day – Pupil Free Day
Monday 27th November Curriculum Day – Pupil Free Day
Tuesday 12th December Mano Transition Day – students meet their 2024 teacher
Thursday 14th December Grade 6 Graduation ceremony
Friday 15th December End of Year Celebration – 9:30am
Wednesday 20th December Last day of school year – 1:30pm dismissal

Thank you for supporting our school and have a great week.

Christian Smith

Term 4 Casual Dress Day