Dear School Community Members,

Welcome to Term 2!

It has been a wonderful start to Term 2 at Mano, with all students busy catching up with friends and immersing themselves in new curriculum topics.

Term 2 is an eleven-week term, and we can assure you that our school has much to look forward to throughout this time – including our Year 3–6 Mano House Athletics, Education Week, Winter Lightning Premiership for Grade 5 and 6 students, student report cards, numerous excursions, and Parent/Teacher Conferences. Please keep an eye on the calendar of events in our newsletter to stay up to date with everything that’s happening.

Welcome Back

We’re delighted to welcome back Mr. Quinlan and Ms. Dove from their leave. Both have been greatly missed by students, staff, and families alike, and we’re so pleased to have them return to our school community. We know students are excited to reconnect with them, and we look forward to a fantastic term ahead.

ANZAC Day Commemoration Service

On Monday, some of our Grade 6 students will lead our school community through our annual ANZAC Day Commemoration Service. All families are warmly welcome.

Date: Monday, 28th April

Time: 9:05 AM

Venue: Basketball/Netball Court (in front of flagpoles)

Unleashing Potential Awards – Term 1

Congratulations to the following students on receiving the Term 1

Unleashing Potential Award:

Foundation – Charlie Love
Grade 1 – Rose Kelly
Grade 2 – Lottie Love
Grade 3 – Hudson Adamko
Grade 4 – Chloe Psaila
Grade 5 – To be announced at next week’s assembly
Grade 6 – Aleks Lazovic

Bringing Colour and Creativity to Our School: New Bathroom Murals Unveiled!

At long last—and after extensive student consultation and thoughtful planning—we’re thrilled to announce the completion of a truly exciting project!

Over the Easter break, local Geelong artist Connor Firth transformed our student bathrooms in both the Main Building and the Multi-Purpose Room with vibrant, inspiring murals. Connor worked tirelessly to bring these spaces to life, and the result is nothing short of incredible. His work reflects not only his artistic talent but also the voice and ideas of our students, making this project something we can all take pride in.

We hope these revamped spaces will spark joy and excitement among our students. To celebrate, classes have been encouraged to visit the newly decorated bathrooms. It’s a great opportunity for students to explore and appreciate the artwork first hand—and to start important conversations about respect for our shared spaces.

A huge thank you to everyone involved in the planning process, and especially to Nathan Gibson for organising this project. We can’t wait to see how these new spaces brighten our students' days!

Digital Learning

Our BYOD iPad program continues to provide students with new and valuable learning experiences. The benefits of using iPads in learning are well documented and clearly evident in our school setting. However, it’s important to remind students and families of our guidelines for the effective and safe use of these devices. Manifold Heights PS has developed clear and concise guidelines with input from students, staff, and families. Here are a few key reminders:

No games during school time (unless teacher-directed and educational)
No messaging at school between friends or with parents
iPads should be securely stored in bags while travelling to and from school (especially when riding or walking home)

Education Week at Manifold Heights PS

Our school, along with many others, will celebrate Education Week during the week beginning Monday, 19th May. This is a wonderful opportunity for our community to celebrate the learning, achievements, and experiences that happen every day at Mano. Further details will be shared in the coming weeks.

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

Warm regards,

Narelle Geary

Book Fair