Principal's report
It's ART SHOW Week
Dear Parents, Carers, Students and Community members of Moonee Ponds West PS
The Art Show opened last night, and although attendance was down a little, there was an air of community! The work of the children was proudly admired by adults, staff, relatives and children alike.
We welcomed our partner in the Arts, The Incinerator Art Gallery to open this year’s Art Show. Christine Healey the Gallery’s Curator spoke and outlined the school’s partnership and the opportunity for us to develop our student’s visual thinking strategies. The partnership connects teachers and students with art. The Visual Thinking Strategies (VTS) supports language acquisition for all students regardless of their entry level. It teaches the tenets of respectful conversations, whilst aligning with the Victorian Curriculum requirements. Here are some starting questions for your conversations at home. Start with a silent moment to look at a photo, piece of art, drawing or some visual capture. Ask the following: What’s going on in this picture? What do you see that makes you say that? What more can you find? Remember to keep pointing and paraphrasing.
An Art Show takes a fair amount of preparation to be able to display student pieces with the right degree of appropriate pomp and ceremony. There have been many hands to the pump and next time we will add parent helpers to the mix!
Many thanks to the Creative Arts Team (Sue Phillips and Claudia Stolfo, ably supported by their partners Antony and Phil, Raine Ryan (our resident other Art teacher) Shirl Ramage and staff from across the school including Kim Satchell, Michele Birch and Mel Beissel. Many hands….you know the rest.
I hope you will find time to visit the Art Show as it is on all week after school until 5.00pm and THURSDAY until 7pm.
The Moonee Vale Instrumental Music Program (MVIMP) Concert held last Thursday
Another wonderful night of capturing student effort and talent developed by a terrific band of music tutors. In any learning the teacher makes the difference and in learning a musical instrument it is exactly the same. The tutors (Terri, Les, Caitlin, Janet, Simon, Anthony and Bandleader Lex) we have acquired to this program are wonderful; they connect with the students, encourage as a firm and supportive guide and work to ensure all students give their best. I was on the practice bus like last year and spent time listening to the Senior Strings. Think I might learn the cello! Many of you will already know that my own boys started their musical journey in this program some 30 years ago.
Congratulations to all the students that performed on Thursday night and to our staff who supported on the night. This is the second year that Moonee Ponds West is managing the program, and the efficient organisation by Sandra Monaghan has enabled this massive logistical nightmare to be managed and the result to be as successful for all. Well done again Sandra! MVIMP has another stellar performance!
Wind in the Willow Performance
The choir is getting ready to perform Wind in the Willows for you. This year we are doing two nights. This will allow all who want to see the performance to attend and it will give our performers a second chance to perform. Bookings for the performances are on Eventbrite so get in early. We have capped the amount of seats available to be purchased to 150 per performance to allow for your comfort. Tickets are $5.00 each.
I have seen some of the work that has been going on to make this a wonderful experience yet again! Where does Kate get her energy from? The children are learning their parts and practicing their dance routines. I think all of Kate’s family are involved and I thank them for their time. Many of our staff and parents have been assisting as well, so it is a community effort. I can’t wait! Get your tickets now.
The Eventbrite links are:
Wednesday 4th December
Thursday 5th December
Lost property
We are putting this out each day (weather permitting). Please encourage your child to look for lost items. We will be removing half of the non-uniform items at the end of this week to clean and take to the Brotherhood. Come on claim your lost items!
Hydration
With the hot weather approaching can I remind children that they need a water bottle for school. This should be named and contain only WATER! Water can be drank during class, as it is important for learning and thinking to be hydrated. Usually there is a place for water bottles in the class for easy access. We don’t want continual guzzling as this distracts from learning but drinking during class time is encouraged. Lost your drink bottle? Check lost property.
Quality of drinking water
The recent news release my have prompted you to ask; what is the water quality at MPWPS? Our drinking water has been tested and cleared. The bubble taps are cleaned each week as part of the cleaners or Brian’s routine. The taps were cleaned over the weekend. Children can drink from these at the breaks so there is no need for water bottles to be taken outside. Teachers will guide children re this point.
Well that’s about it from me for this week. Enjoy your family and friends and I ask what are you grateful for this week?
Sincerely and in good faith
Kerri Simpson
Principal (Acting at Moonee Ponds West PS)
Parent Classroom Representatives 2020
In the next two weeks we will be calling for nominations for our Classroom Representatives for 2020 via Compass. We are planning for 2020 classroom representatives to be in place before the end of the 2019 school year. Please consider undertaking this important role.
From the Assistant Principal
Dear Parents/Carers, Students and Community. I am very excited about my appointment as the ongoing Assistant Principal at Moonee Ponds West Primary School.
Previously, I had an ongoing position at Keilor Heights Primary School fulfilling many roles including Leading Teacher, Acting Assistant Principal and Acting Principal. Prior to working at Keilor Heights, I worked for the Department, writing the curriculum for Victoria.
I came to Moonee Ponds West in Term 4 of 2016 as Acting Assistant Principal, mainly responsible for Student Welfare. In 2017 and part of 2018, a large part of my role was developing Guidelines, Policies and Procedures to address the additional needs of students.
For the latter part of 2018 to date, I have been working with staff to develop an Instructional Model to ensure the best teaching and learning is occurring at Moonee Ponds West. This is an exciting time as teachers are working to implement High Impact Teaching Strategies which are evidence based and proven to have an effect on student outcomes. We will be continuing with this work in 2020.
For those parents/carers I haven’t met, please feel free to introduce yourself whilst I’m on yard duty, at special events or make a time to chat.
I can’t wait to continue my Leadership journey at Moonee Ponds West, working with parents/carers, students and staff to create the best learning environment possible. I will continue to keep the community up to date.
