Moonee Ponds West Primary School

Principal's Report 

Dear MPW families and friends,

 

We are excited to welcome back Elisha, Kim, and Melanie after their periods of leave. Elisha returns from an extended absence to resume her role as Assistant Principal, with a focus on student wellbeing and inclusion.

I would also like to take this opportunity to thank Miriam and Katherine, who have both stepped in to cover Kim and Melanie's classes during their absence. They have worked hard to ensure that the classes had a great start to the year, and we truly appreciate their dedication. The students have been eagerly anticipating Kim and Melanie’s return this week, and we’re happy to have everyone back.

 

We had a fantastic time at the Basket Tea on 21st February. The weather was perfect, and everyone enjoyed themselves. To top off the evening, some of our future 2026 foundation students gave an impromptu performance on the decking, featuring dancing, air guitar, and even a stage dive! It was a fun way to wrap up the night.

 

A big thank you to our staff and parents for their contributions during last week’s Parent Teacher Interviews. We hope these meetings were insightful and provided a valuable opportunity to discuss your child’s progress for the year ahead. Our next formal Parent Teacher Interviews will take place at the beginning of Term 3. These will be student-led conferences, giving students a chance to share their achievements and goals, while offering another opportunity for parents to engage with teachers.

 

This week, we’re excited to be using the newly updated Japanese Room! The space is looking amazing, and students who have experienced their sessions this week are loving it. If you haven’t yet had a chance to check out the revamped Library building, be sure to take a look at the photos below showcasing some of the new spaces.

 

 

 

District Swimming Results

Congratulations to the students who participated in District Swimming. The feedback from the day has been overwhelmingly positive, with our students showing great effort. Special congratulations to the following students for their remarkable achievements:

  • Sophia: 1st in Butterfly, 2nd in Freestyle
  • Alexander: 1st in Breaststroke
  • Louis: 1st in Backstroke, 3rd in Butterfly
  • Emerson: 3rd in Butterfly
  • Maddie: 3rd in Backstroke
  • Open Medley Relay Boys (Fletcher, Emerson, Alexander, Louis): 3rd place
  • Open Medley Relay Girls (Maddie, Estelle, Alyssa, Sophia): 3rd place
  • 12/13 Girls Relay (Sophia, Maddie, Alyssa, Abby): 3rd place

Congratulations to Sophia, Alexander, and Louis, who will represent us at the Division Swimming on 11th March.

Drop-Off and Pick-Up Zone Reminders

As a reminder, the drop-off and pick-up zones on Athol Street and Eglinton Street are for quick, safe, and efficient use only. These areas, marked by red lines, are not for parking. We kindly ask parents to refrain from double parking and to remain in their vehicles when using these zones to ensure a smooth flow of traffic and a safe environment for students.

Please also be mindful of parking signs around the school, especially on Eglinton and Athol Street. The local council monitors these areas, and violations may result in fines. Your cooperation in ensuring the safety of our students and families is greatly appreciated.

 

NAPLAN Information

NAPLAN testing for Years 3 and 5 students will begin on Wednesday, 12th March. This week, students will complete practice tests to help them prepare and familiarize themselves with the online testing environment. Year 3 students will continue to complete the Writing assessment on paper.

We approach NAPLAN as just another learning activity. It’s an opportunity for students to experience test conditions, and we encourage them to do their best without stress or anxiety. As with all assessments, it’s about having a go and learning from the experience.

Classroom Helpers Sessions

Elisha will be running our annual Classroom Helpers induction sessions for parents interested in volunteering in the classroom. The sessions will cover typical volunteer tasks, as well as important information regarding Child Safety and privacy.

If you’d like to help in the classroom regularly or occasionally, please reach out to your child’s teacher. All parent helpers are required to read through our induction materials on privacy and Child Safety and must have a Working with Children Check to volunteer at the school.

We look forward to welcoming those who can support our teachers and students throughout the year. Further details of the induction sessions will be sent via Compass.

Movie Night Update

We’ve had to reschedule our annual Movie Night to Friday, 4th April, due to a scheduling conflict with our provider. This year, we’ll be screening Sonic 3!

The Fundraising Committee will be reaching out soon to begin working on the logistics for the event. As always, we’ll have a variety of food stalls, including BBQ, ice cream, popcorn, drinks, and a bar for adults.

Tickets are now on sale via Eventbrite here. Be sure to also purchase your food and drink vouchers in advance to redeem at the stalls!

School Photos

Our 2025 School Photos will be held on Monday 17th March.  Further details for ordering online through the Arthur Reed website is in the Education section of the newsletter.

 

Finally, a reminder that Monday is the Labour Day public holiday.   We hope you have an enjoyable long weekend.

 

Regards,

Jarrod Sutton

Principal