Principal Message

From the Principal’s Desk

Dear Mitcham Primary School Families,

We were delighted to see the success of our Special Persons morning held on Thursday, where students eagerly welcomed their grandparents, parents, aunts, uncles, neighbors, and other special friends into their classrooms. The excitement and pride displayed by our students was heart warming! 

As we look ahead to 2025, we want to share some important changes that will enhance our educational offerings based on our commitment to meet student needs.

After careful consideration, we will be moving away from multi-aged class groupings in the junior school (Prep, Grade 1, Grade 2). Starting in 2025, we will have three dedicated Prep classes, three Grade 1 classes, and three Grade 2 classes. This grade-specific approach aligns with the recent changes to the Victorian English Curriculum, which will be implemented next year. The revised curriculum emphasizes a structured progression of phonics skills, and we believe that having straight grades in the early years will better ensure that foundational skills are mastered before students advance to more complex concepts.

In response to the new Department of Education direction for phonics instruction, we are excited to announce the implementation of the Macquarie University (MultiLit) program for teaching phonics and reading across the school. This program follows a structured synthetic phonics approach and focuses on phonemic awareness in a manner like THRASS. Additionally, it provides extra reading resources that will be utilized in classrooms to support our students' literacy development.

We will also be commencing mainstream classroom transitions from next week! During these transition days, students will have the opportunity to "step up" and spend time in a classroom from the next grade level they will be moving into in 2025. Students are randomly placed into these groups, and they will not know their teacher or classmates until Tuesday, 10th December. The dates for our mainstream transition activity days are as follows:

• Week 4: Tuesday, 29th October at 10:25 AM
• Week 6: Tuesday, 12th November at 12:35 PM
• Week 8: Tuesday, 26th November at 9:00 AM
• Week 10: Tuesday 10th December ‘Meet your 2025 Teacher and Class’

In previous years, this transition process has been very effective in reducing anxiety around moving classes, helping students feel more comfortable and excited about the upcoming year.

As we begin to consider class placements for 2025, we invite parents to share any relevant information regarding their child’s learning needs or preferences. If you would like to contribute your insights, please email this information to the school by the end of next week, Friday, 1st November. While we do consider friendship requests, please note that we will not accommodate specific teacher requests.

Hats Off to Teachers

Today, Friday, 25th October, we celebrate Australia’s Teachers Day! This occasion gives us the perfect opportunity to acknowledge the incredible team we have at Mitcham Primary. We had a wonderful time at assembly, where students shared their heartfelt "Teacher of the Week" awards, showcasing the impact our teachers have on their lives. The joy and appreciation displayed by our students highlights the dedication and passion our teachers bring to their roles every day. Thank you to all our amazing educators for your hard work and commitment!

Important 2025 Start of Year Dates

• Tuesday, 28th January – Teachers Return – Pupil Free Day
• Wednesday, 29th January – Teacher Professional Learning Day – Pupil Free Day
• Thursday, 30th January – Grade 1-6 students start. Prep interviews begin at the appointed times.
• Friday, 31st January – Prep interviews at the appointed times.
• Monday, 3rd February – Prep interviews at the appointed times.
• Tuesday, 4th February – Prep interviews at the appointed times.
• Wednesday, 5th February – Prep students commence school full time with a staggered arrival on this first day!

Thank you for your ongoing support as we make these significant transitions. Together, we can ensure that our students are set up for success in their learning journeys.

Warmly, 

Erin