Dear Parents and Guardians,

What a wonderful start to the 2026 school year we have had with our students settling in beautifully. It has been a joy to see our classrooms filled with such positive energy. This week, our students have been participating in 'Learning to Learn' units where they have been learning more about their classmates and their teachers. These lessons are a terrific way for our staff to set high expectations for the year ahead and spend the time getting to know their students. I am also incredibly proud of our littlest learners, our wonderful 2026 Foundation students who have had also an incredible start to the school year.

Such a positive start to the school year is only possible because of the support from yourselves, alongside the dedication of our wonderful teaching staff in setting up such beautiful classrooms. I look forward to a fantastic year, filled with growth and learning.

Parent-Child-Teacher Chat

Parent-Child-Teacher conversations are a great way to meet your child/ren's 2026 teacher. These interviews are a wonderful opportunity to let your child/ren's teacher know more about them. Things like their interests, areas of challenge and strength as well as any new or updated medical information, or other things that will help the teacher support your child this year.

These conversations will take place on Monday 9th and Wednesday 11th of February (Please note: 4A Interviews will be held on Wednesday and Thursday). Bookings are now open on Compass through the Conferences tab. We please ask that all bookings are made by the end of the day on Sunday 8th. If you need any assistance please contact the office on 7303 1200.

School Newsletter & Term Overviews

This year, our school newsletter will be sent home to families each fortnight, keeping you informed about important updates, events and celebrations across our school. In 2026, we will no longer be sending 'Weekly Happenings' from individual year levels. Instead, families will receive a Year Level Term Overview sent out towards the start of the term. These termly overviews will outline the key learning areas and curriculum foci for your child’s year level, as well as upcoming important information and dates for the term. We hope that these term overviews will provide a clear picture of what students will be learning across the term.

Compass

At MTPS, Compass is our primary platform for communication with families. Important school updates, reminders and notices will be shared through Compass, so we encourage all parents and carers to check the app regularly to stay informed. Compass also allows us to securely collect and update medical information for your child, ensuring we have accurate and current details to support student wellbeing.

Compass is also used for providing consent for excursions, incursions and other school activities. In 2026, all permission forms will be sent exclusively via Compass, and families will be required to provide consent online. There will be no paper forms or alternative methods available, so it is essential that all families have access to Compass and are able using the platform. If you require support setting up or navigating Compass, please contact the school office, who will be happy to assist.

Billy Button Early Learning Centre

Our neighbours, Billy Button Early Learning Centre will be opening their doors in the next few weeks! Robyn the managing director has expressed concern that many of our families were using their carpark during school drop off and pick up time last week. Whilst this isn't impacting the centre at the moment, as they don't have children onsite yet, we are both concerned that when they are officially open, the families enrolled at Billy Button won't be able to park in their carpark. I am asking that you please refrain from parking in their carpark unless you are purchasing something from their Cafe or have a child attending the centre.

Homework

This year our homework policy is up for review. To support this review and to gain perspective from all stakeholders, I would like to form a Homework committee that has parents, staff and students representing all the different perspectives, opinions and realities around homework. This group would look into what research and parenting experts are saying about the impacts both positive and negative around homework.

The main role of the committee would then be to put together a homework policy with clear guidelines for our community that would align to what is evidence informed and deemed best current practice. If you are interested in joining the homework committee please email me at principal@motherteresa.catholic.edu.au

Further on in the newsletter, in the curriculum News, Naomi and Conchita have outlined what homework/home learning will look like in 2026.

Sustainability Award

Just a reminder that we have a very exciting event coming up on Thursday 19th of February! On this date we will be receiving our 5th Star as a Resource Smart School by Sustainability Victoria.

This outstanding achievement places us among only 18 schools in Victoria to receive this honour, and we are proud to be just the second Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic School in the northern region to reach this milestone.

We will have many special guests joining us on this day and we hope that our parents will also be able to celebrate with us!

God Bless,

Jess

Upcoming Events

2026 MTPS Calendar