Principal's Message
AEU Industrial Action
You may be aware that the education union has planned industrial action for Tuesday 24th. As a result, many of our teaching and education support staff will participate in the strike.
Families may choose to keep their child at home on this day, and the absence will not count towards their attendance record.
We understand some families who work in critical services (police, nurses, doctors teachers, ambulance etc) and may still need to send their child to school. If so, appropriate supervision will be provided, and information on how to notify the school has been sent in a Compass message.
Due to the AEU industrial action we will unfortunately be unable to attend our scheduled swimming session taking place on Tuesday 24th March, as we will not have the capacity to fulfil our duty of care requirements.
We have rearranged the final swimming session, the “Fun Day" which will take place on Wednesday 1st April.
School Council 2026
We are pleased to introduce the 2026 School Council for Mount Pleasant Road Primary School.
The School Council plays an important role in supporting the governance and strategic direction of the school. Working in partnership with the Principal, the council helps set the school’s vision and goals, oversees financial management, and contributes to policies that enhance student learning and wellbeing. Council members represent the interests of the whole school community and work collaboratively to ensure a safe, inclusive and high-quality learning environment for all students.
Office Bearers
Jennifer Teoh – School Council President
George Ma – Vice President
Marty Tofts – Treasurer
Parent / Community Members
Luke Neilson
Callum Downie
Kirsty Ojeda
Sheena Raytsin
School Staff / Employees
Claudia Rushton
Amanda Nelson
Amanda Martin
Jonny Hobbs
We have one vacant position. Please email the school and come to the office if you are interested in joining us.
We look forward to working together to support our school community throughout 2026.
Whitehorse Advisory Council
Our school captains Tattva and Summer were invited to Whitehorse Advisory Council for students this week. They attended this event with other primary school leaders from across the area.
Students had the opportunity to meet the Mayor of Whitehorse and take part in a consultation on local Whitehorse projects. This was a valuable experience, allowing our students to share their ideas and have their voices heard on matters within the community.
During the session, students contributed their thoughts and feedback on proposed plans for Walker Park, demonstrating thoughtful insight and a strong sense of civic responsibility.
We are very proud of the way our captains represented the school and engaged so positively in this opportunity. See School Captain Report in newsletter for Tattva's recount.
Swimming
This week, our students made a great start to the Water Safety Program at Aquanation.
Students have begun developing important water safety skills and confidence in the water, guided by experienced instructors in a supportive environment. The program provides valuable learning opportunities that help students build awareness, safety knowledge, and practical swimming skills.
We look forward to seeing their continued progress over the coming sessions.
The swimming session taking place on Tuesday 24th March, will not run, as we will not have the capacity to fulfil our duty of care requirements.
We have rearranged the final swimming session, the “Fun Day" which will take place on Wednesday 1st April.
Family Breakfast and Easter Hat Parade
On April 2nd we will be hosting our annual Family Breakfast and Easter Hat Parade at school. Join us for breakfast in the courtyard from 7.30am and stay on for out Easter Hat Parade at 9am. Students are encouraged to work with their families to create a fun, colourful and creative Easter hat to wear on the day. Hats can be made from craft materials, recycled items, decorations, or anything that shows your child’s imagination.
Our School Captains and SRC leaders will have the responsibility of judging the hats during the parade. They will be looking for hats that stand out in four different categories:
Most Colourful – bright, vibrant and eye-catching designs
Most Creative – imaginative ideas and clever construction
Most Unique – unusual or one-of-a-kind designs
Most Environmentally Friendly – hats made using recycled or sustainable materials.
We can’t wait to see all the amazing creations our students come up with.
On this day we also have our Eater raffle.
Staffing news
At the end of this term, we will also be farewelling two valued members of our team.
Emma McCoy will be taking some time away as she begins her family leave. We wish her all the very best during this special and exciting time.
Eryn Muir will be leaving us to return to Scotland. We thank her for her contribution and dedication, and wish her safe travels and every success in her next chapter.
Both Emma and Eryn will be greatly missed, and we thank them for the positive impact they have had on our community.
Important Term 1 Dates
• AEU Strike- Tuesday 24th March
• Whole School Swimming Program – Tuesday 17th – Friday 27th March
• Family Breakfast and Easter Hat Parade - 2nd of April
Have a lovely weekend. Claudia