Welcome back to our Mill Park Heights School Community

It is wonderful to have you all back onsite happy safe and well. We hope you enjoyed the time together and created further family memories. This was a great time for people to relax, reflect and do a few things differently over the fortnight.

As this term begins, we are busy planning our events, learning and wellbeing programs for Term 4 as well as focusing on the 2027 expectations and direction. We are looking to confirm our school profile as early as possible and are monitoring student numbers to ensure correct ratios of staff to students.

Please note:

If you already have children at MPHPS and have not yet enrolled a future sibling into the 2027 Foundation cohort, I ask that you contact the office asap. Transition has commenced from week 2 of this term and then classes and staffing will be determined.
If you have friends still deciding about a school placement for their child in 2027, please encourage them to ring our office and book an individual school tour. Any family moving into our school zone has direct right of entry to MPHPS. Families outside of the zone are welcome to request a placement, but acceptance is based on student availability in the requested year level.
If you are moving in 2027 Please contact the office to confirm this move so that we can accurately consider future numbers. We do understand that some family housing /locations have changed, and this may result in families preferring to attend their local school once they have moved.

Learning & Wellbeing Updates

The Leadership team have had the pleasure of visiting classrooms as part of our learning walks, and we couldn’t be prouder of the work ethic and learning growth across our school. It was wonderful to have the opportunity to talk with students about their learning and also to observe their level of focus and pride in building their knowledge and capacity.
If you missed the end of term Jump Rope for Heart presentation on our Footy Day, I would like to highlight the brilliant effort of all students involved along with the continual encouragement coming from Coaches Maxwell & Taleski. Skipping became an important part of the T3 HPE curriculum and it was fantastic to watch this showcase.
While on the topic of “showcase” I would like to commend and congratulate our school band Rocky Heights who performed at the Lalor North SC Summer Festival at the end of T3. It was my pleasure to have attended and watch our band perform. I received a lovely email from a principal in a neighbouring school who sent on their congratulations to our band in recognition of their amazing performance. This could not have happened without the rehearsals and drive from our fabulous musicians Mr Evans and Mr Wright.
Junior School Swimming has commenced with students in Foundation, Years 1, 2 & 3 participating in the program. Thank you to the HPE team and the teaching staff for their organisation and enthusiasm in ensuring the students have a wonderful experience. Our thanks also go to the many parent helpers who have offered to walk with classes and help with our program. Don’t forget to have a chat with the pool staff if you are looking at continuing your swimming lessons privately.
The Wellbeing team are working overtime to support some individual students in preparation for their transition in 2027. I thank the families of these students who have participated in various meetings and discussions where some extra information has been requested.
I encourage you all to check the Term 4 dates and record these in your calendars. This will include school events, Foundation 2027 Transition, a staff professional practice and Curriculum Day and school collections and book pick up.
Finally, a reminder that SunSmart procedures are now in full force. All students are required to wear their named school hat outside. This is non negotiable and any student without a hat will be sent to a shaded quiet area. It is the student’s responsibility to care for their hat and to keep it on their head. Their hat should only come off once they are in the classroom and it will then be returned to their school bag or locker. If students follow this process, their hat shouldn’t get misplaced or picked up by another student.

In closing, I ask you all to check in with each other. We recently focused on R U OK Day and I have reflected that we really should be asking this question more often. I remind you of our school values and the importance of belonging and compassion within our community. We do not always know the challenges other people carry and how hard it may be to just get through the day. In a climate where times can be hard, I hope we can all be supportive and positive towards each other just to make someone’s day a little warmer and brighter.

Wishing you a wonderful fortnight

Chris, Mel & Kate

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