Principal's Message

Education Week

Education Week has been an exciting time at school. On Thursday we welcomed our friends families into our rooms to participate in a Morning (Welcome) Circle and wellbeing activity. 

The Morning Circle is a daily, structured group activity where students and teachers gather in a circle to start the school day with intention, connection, and calm. It's not just a ritual that builds safety, belonging, and readiness to learn.

Foundation families were recently invited to observe specialist classes in action, providing a valuable window into the rich learning experiences happening across the school.

In the Grade 3-6 sessions, students explored how to identify and use their personal strengths such as kindness, perseverance, and teamwork. Through the Character Strengths lens, they learned how these traits help them grow as learners and friends.

In Grade 1 and 2 , students participated in lessons based on the Zones of Regulation, a well-known tool that helps children recognise and manage their emotions. Teachers guided students in identifying which "zone" they were in (blue, green, yellow, or red), and introduced self-regulation strategies to help them return to the optimal learning state—the green zone.

Education Week is a great time to reflect on what is wonderful about our school. 

Enrichment Opportunties 

As part of our Enrichment Program, 34 students across Years 3-6 have been selected to particpate in the Australian Maths Challenge. The challenge involves students working independently or in small groups on problem-solving challenges over 3-4 weeks with the aim of extending their mathematical and abstract thinking. We can’t wait to see the solutions! 

The Dorothea Mackellar Poetry competition has begun for 2025. It seeks to capture the imaginations of school students across Australia, inspiring them to express their thoughts and feelings through the medium of poetry in their pursuit of literary excellence.

Important information

• National Poetry Competition
• Open to F-6
• Optional theme of ‘All the beautiful things’
• Any style of poetry - no more than 80 lines
• Write at home or in a lunchtime club on Mondays from next week (listen for an announcement)
• Submit your poems to Emma McCoy (5/6E) by Tuesday 24th June

Education Support Staff

This week, we celebrated Education Support Staff Week, a special time to acknowledge and appreciate the incredible contributions of our support team.

Our Education Support Staff play a vital role in the daily life of our school. Whether they are working one-on-one with students, supporting classrooms, managing wellbeing programs, or handling the enormous demands of school administration. Their dedication ensures our school runs smoothly and efficiently.

Their behind-the-scenes efforts often go unnoticed, but they are the backbone of our school community providing care, expertise, and tireless support to both students and staff. Their impact is felt in every corner of our school.

We thank our Meg, Lou, Jane, Brooke, Luda, Prahba, Mel, Jack, Taya, Chris, Sue, Nat, Mackenzie, Sarah and Jo for their professionalism, patience, and commitment to creating a positive and inclusive learning environment for all.

Grade 5/6 Excursion

On Monday Grade 5/6 students took part in a guided tour of Parliament House, where they learned about how laws are made, the responsibilities of elected representatives, and the functioning of democracy in Australia. At the State Library of Victoria, they explored the Treaty Exhibition, which provided an important perspective onIndigenous governance, justice, and treaty-making. This experience helped students gain a deeper understanding of how Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have long advocated for self-determination and recognition.

Thanks to Nick McGowan MP for the tour and to our parent helpers who came on the day.

OSH Club

This week, I had the pleasure of visiting OSHClub, and it was wonderful to see the  welcoming environment that has been created for our students. The session began with a calm and engaging check-in, where students sat with the educators and shared something positive about their day. This simple yet meaningful conversation helped build connections, promote reflection, and set a positive tone for the afternoon.

Following this, the students enjoyed a delicious afternoon tea, which gave them time to relax and recharge. It was lovely to see students chatting with friends and staff in such a warm atmosphere.

The remainder of the session was filled with a variety of creative and active opportunities, including cooking, arts and crafts, as well as indoor and outdoor games. 

It was clear that OSHClub provides not only a safe and structured environment, but also one where students are encouraged to express themselves, try new things, and enjoy meaningful interactions with peers and educators alike.

Changes to How We Report on Maths

As part of the updated Victorian Curriculum (Version 2.0), we’re making some changes to how we report on your child’s progress in Maths.

Previously, reports included three separate progression points for Number and Algebra, Measurement and Geometry, and Statistics and Probability. Now, with the new curriculum, there’s just one overall progression point for Mathematics.

This change reflects the way Maths is actually taught and learned – as a connected subject where skills and concepts build on each other. The curriculum still includes all the key areas (Number, Algebra, Space, Measurement, and Statistics and Probability), and we are still teaching and assessing all of them.

Teachers will continue to collect detailed data across each area. That information will come through in the written comment on your child’s report, showing what they’ve been working on and how they’re progressing.

You might notice that the overall progression point looks a little different compared to previous years, but this doesn’t mean any less content is being taught – it’s just a new way of reporting.

If you have any questions or would like to chat more about your child’s learning, feel free to contact their classroom teacher.

Thanks for your support as we continue to adapt and improve how we report on student learning!

Our New Library Is Opening Soon!

We’re thrilled to announce that our brand-new library space will be opening very soon! This space is designed to inspire a love of reading, curiosity, and learning in all students. We’ve used the school library fund, supported by parent contributions, to purchase new furniture that enhances the space and makes it more engaging. With cosy reading nooks, flexible learning zones, and a wide range of  books and resources, the library will be a hub for imagination, discovery, and collaboration.

We can’t wait to welcome our students and families into this exciting new space! Stay tuned!

Video Recording- final days

If you would like to purchase a professional recording of either night of production please follow the link to Encore Videography https://encorevideography.com.au/w/store/#!/Mount-Pleasant-Road-PS-School-Production-Seussical-Jnr-2025/p/488556623 

Photo Purchases- final days

 Homework Policy

This week, we have a spotlight on Homework at MPRPS.

Take a closer look at the role of homework in our students' learning journeys and the type of homework given to students' by our teachers.

 Student Free Day

Please note that Friday, 6th June will be a student free day. On this day, students are not required to attend school. Our teaching staff will be using this time to finalise assessments and complete report writing in preparation for the end of term. The King's Birthday public holiday follows on the Monday.

ES Day 2025

On Friday 16th May we celebrated our Educational Support (ES) staff. Our ES Team work in the office in administrative roles, in classes supporting learning and in our Wellbeing Team. They are an invaluable part of our community at MPRPS and we thank them for all the amazing work they do! 

Have a wonderful weekend!