Principal's Report

“Learning is a treasure that will follow its owner everywhere."

Tree Works

 Undoubtedly you will have noticed the tree works that have been happening this week. These works are being completed as a part of the Safe Trees Program, and followed an audit that was completed earlier in the year. 

We are very fortunate to have such picturesque grounds at Marlborough, providing a much-needed 'haircut' to these trees will ensure that students can continue to learn and play safely in the natural environment.

School Review

On Tuesday, 11th October we had the first day of the review – known as the Validation Day. The panel went through the Pre-Review Self Evaluation (PRSE) document and discussed the journey that MPS has been on throughout the last strategic plan. 

After some short classroom visits, the panel re-convened to discuss the goals for the upcoming Fieldwork Day – which will happen on the 24th of October. There will be more observations on this day and the panel will be interviewing staff, students and parents. 

We would like to invite you to attend the parent forum (to be held by the School Review Panel) on Monday 24 October, 3:00-3:30pm in the Staff Room. If you are wanting to attend, please contact the office to register your interest.

Hardy Street Drop Off/ Pick Up

Maroondah Council Engineers have investigated Hardy Crescent school drop-off and pick-up hours and continue to do so, and observe vehicles illegally parked in the 'No Stopping' zone on the bend of Hardy Crescent to drop off and pick up children.  The council are enforcing parking fines in the 'No Stopping' zone when cars are parked and a passenger door is opened.  

It is extremely unsafe for children to be opening a car door and getting out of a car on the Hardy Crescent bend, and then walking on the road to go around the fence to enter the school grounds.  We stress the importance to be patient and wait to stop in the parking / drop off area before your child opens the car door to get out and walk into the school grounds on the footpath.

Safe Riding or Scooting to School

As the weather warms up, it is fantastic to see so many students riding their bikes or scooters to school. Unfortunately, there have been many instances of students riding their bike or scooter without a helmet and/or riding/scooting within the school grounds. Some reminders from the Department of Education in regards to bike/scooter safety:

• Children under the age of 12 may ride on footpaths, as can a supervising adult. They are required to give way to pedestrians and to wheel their bicycles over pedestrian and children’s crossings.
• Children aged 12 years or older are required by law to ride on the road.
• Road safety authorities recommend that children under the age of 9 are supervised by an adult when riding on the road. Depending on their cycling skills and experience, some children over this age may still require supervision.
• The law requires that all cyclists wear an approved bicycle helmet.

Can you please make sure that if your child is riding/scooting to school that they wear a helmet and walk their bikes once inside the school gates.

2023 Planning

If your child will not be attending Marlborough Primary in 2023 (other than current Year 6 students) please notify the school in writing and include the name of the new school if known. This helps us to organise a smooth transition for your child and assist us greatly with class planning.

Each year families are invited to submit a request for consideration for student placement for the following school year. These requests must be educationally based, families cannot make requests for specific teachers. If you believe you have such a request, I ask that you email me by Friday November 4th. If you have made a request in the past and believe that the need is still current, you are asked to make the request again. Please note that all requests are considered in our student placement process but are not always able to be granted.

Foundation Transition / 2023 Foundation Teacher

Our 2023 Foundation Transition sessions begin this Friday, with the kinder students spending the morning in their 2023 classroom getting to know each other and becoming familiar with Marlborough Primary. These sessions are extremely important in ensuring students feel confident and comfortable when making the journey from kinder to 'big school.'

We are pleased to announce that the 2023 Foundation Teacher will be Mrs. Helen Edwards.  Helen will be running the transition sessions and is extremely excited to be teaching Foundation next year - coming from an early years education background. 

Acknowledgements

Finally, a huge thanks to all of the staff and volunteers that helped make the F-2 Camping Program such a success. Helen Edwards, Hua Maley, Amelie Fraser, Pippa Davis, Sheena Cronin, Lisa Mackney, Mary-Ellen Dowling, Tracy Mullenger, Jane Barnes, Brianna Bradford and Gerry Ladiges all offered their time (away from their own families) to ensure that our F-2 students are able to make long lasting memories of these outstanding experiences. Please see the F-2 newsletter for photos and further updates on the event.

As always, if you have any questions, queries or concerns, please don't hesitate to contact me by phone at the school or via email at alec.baroni@education.vic.gov.au. 

Have a fantastic week!

Alec Baroni

Acting Principal

A Note From Neil Butler 

It has been wonderful to be able to begin returning to Marlborough over the past few weeks. I would like to thank Christine Pillot, Alec Baroni and the whole MPS team for their work while I needed to be away. Over Term 4 I will be building back up to being at school full-time by the end of the year, increasing my time in at school over the coming weeks. If you see me around please feel free to stop and say hello. 

I have really enjoyed visiting classes and reconnecting with all of our amazing students over the past few weeks, it does make you feel like a Rock Star when you walk into a classroom and have 25 faces light up and shout out your name. I am looking forward to being a part of the 2023 transition program and meeting all of our new Foundation students this Friday morning. 

I am excited for what the rest of the year holds for our school community and am excited to see the results of our school review which is currently underway, which will set the path for the next phase of school improvements. 

Neil Butler

Principal