Hello and welcome back to our MPHPS Community

I hope this past fortnight has been positive and you have achieved another goal in preparation for the end of this year. This is definitely a time when our organisational skills are tested, and the diaries / planners come out to lock in dates for December and January.

We are work force planning and continue to manage the ins and outs of staffing and enrolments for 2026. There have been students making comments to their teachers suggesting they are moving in 2026 and we have no record of this. Staff will call you if they hear this conversation, but I ask you to be on the front foot in communicating this change with us.

Congratulations to our girls’ cricket team who won their recent district event and are now proceeding the next level. This is a brilliant achievement, and we are very proud of every team member. Commiserations to our boys’ team who just missed out. Thanks as always to Coaches Maxwell and Taleski for always giving up a little extra of their time for our students.

No doubt, you have now seen and heard in the media, the changes to rules around personal devices being used in primary schools beginning in Term 1 January, 2027.

As of Term 1, 2027, students will no longer be able to bring their personal devices to school and students will only be able to access school-based class sets of netbooks.
We have communicated with our Year 2 families and have now closed our netbook purchasing portal.
Individual families in Year 2 who have already purchased notebooks will be contacted and offered a few options.
Our school community have also received an information flyer that has come directly from the Department of Education.
Please note, the devices mandate does not come into effect until 2027.
Next year , students in Years 4,5 and 6 will still be able to bring their netbooks to school.

Our students at MPHPS already have a responsible and balanced usage of devices in class and using their exercise books and texts. We are very conscious of screen time and plan for this accordingly in classes and lessons. This change in schools might be a great opportunity for families to also consider the amount of screen time children spend on phones, iPads, computers and games while at home. Perhaps collectively we can help this generation switch off a little more and enjoy other activities?

Finally, I would like to publicly acknowledge the extraordinary work of our teaching staff at MPHPS. On Friday we celebrate World Teacher’s Day and this is an opportunity for everyone to thank and show their appreciation to the brilliant classroom teachers and specialists. Teaching is equally a rewarding and challenging profession. Everyday hundreds of decisions are being made based on learning and wellbeing. Classroom programs are planned, tasks are differentiated, equipment is collected and prepared, and every possible situation is considered. Our teachers smile, show compassion and give much of their time to ensure every child gets an opportunity to be their best. I encourage you all the thank your child’s teacher or specialist on Friday. They truly deserve the respect, praise and recognition for their work.

Wishing you fantastic fortnight

Chris Beare.

School Wide Positive Behaviours - Heights Heroes