From the Principal's Desk
Montmorency South Primary School acknowledges the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin Nation as the Traditional Owners of the land on which we work, learn and play. We pay respect to Wurundjeri elders past, present and future and extend our respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students and families of Montmorency South Primary School.
Dear Monty South Community,
Our Book Week parade was a highlight for all our MSPS students, staff, families, and especially Clare, our librarian. Our parade, held in the gym was an incredible sight, with hundreds of different characters represented. Check out the photos on our Facebook page. https://www.facebook.com/montysouthps If you haven't seen our amazing staff video for 'The Very Hungry Caterpillar,' please click here: https://vimeo.com/741760727/30af55f4d2
Thank you everyone for your involvement especially our library captains, Stefani and Alex. Being our first for a couple of years, it was even a greater celebration than usual, and it helps our students reconnect with us as a school and with each other. It is the traditions and rituals that not only establish connections as mentioned but also provide a kind of stability when there is chaos, and they help children to feel comforted and more at peace. What we noted was the part the older children played in helping the younger children participate. They are in a sense passing on the traditions from one generation to the next. Thus, reinforcing the importance of it. I know for busy families, book parades can be a mixed feeling, especially for those of us who are non-creative but we do need them. It is these events when we ask our students to look back on their school years and they cite parades and other special events. It creates joyful memories which are precious.
Father's Day Stall
Thank you also to our wonderful parent and carer helpers who assisted on our Parents and Friends Fathers’ Day stall. A particularly big thank you to Bianca Dhollander and Jenny Vergers for coordinating the event. Our students thoroughly enjoyed browsing the items on offer, and we know our fathers and special friends will be delighted with their treats on Father’s Day.
We wish a very happy Father's Day to all our MSPS dads and special friends!
Curriculum Day/Pupil free
Please remember that Friday 16th September will be a curriculum day and thus a pupil free day. The last day of school for Term 3 will be Thursday 15th September and will conclude at 3:30pm. Please note this is also our Country and Culture Day which has been another tradition at Monty South over many years. Thankfully, we are again able to hold it.
MSPS Achievers
Congratulations to our students who have been identified to participate in the state run Victorian High Achievers Program in Term 4. Woo hoo to Jazzy Steward and Ivy Trainor who will participate in the VHAP maths and to Eli Baldwin, Ava Kent, River Noonan, Gideon Tran, Byron Walker, Stefanie Wendler who will participate in the English program. We are very proud of you all.
1st September “Hats on”
As of the first day of spring, all students (and staff) are required to wear a sunsmart hat when outside. Please ensure that your child has a hat. Emme has her hat on!
If no hat, students will have to play during lunch and recess in the undercroft area.
Tournament of the Minds
We had three teams in the Tournament of Minds recently. The ‘Scientific Snakes’, ‘Monty Mysteries’ and ‘LoveHate Relationships’ presented long term challenge solutions to a panel of judges and responded to a spontaneous challenge.
All teams did an incredible job of collaborating and problem solving during the last six weeks, creating some fantastic responses. They had a terrific time. The Year 6 LoveHate relationships team won and are off to state finals on Sunday 11 September. Thanks to Katie, Chelsea, Daniel and Bec for working with the groups.
Tribes Competition and Kindness Week
Thanks to everyone for contributing to the Tribes drawing competition so far. We have loved receiving all your wonderful and creative efforts to portray the Agreements of Appreciation/No put downs, Mutual Respect, Attentive Listening and Personal Best.
This week is our final week with the last TRIBES Agreement, Right to Think to be completed. We will make a selection of the drawings that best portray student voice for each agreement and make the announcement by the end of this term.
Our final agreement, Right to Think coincides with Kindness Week this week. Kindness is a trait that underpins our Tribes Program and is something we encourage everyone at Monty South to be mindful of. During Kindness Week we will be asking all students to be conscious of listening to others and allowing others their time to think. By listening we are able to show empathy for others and build trust. Active listening means you listen to understand, not listen to reply.
This week please practice active listening, focus on allowing others the right to think…..and at any time you like, carry out a random act of kindness.
From the Wellbeing Team – Yo, Hayley and Captains Abbey Haboldt and Keira Van Der Pluym
Playground update
The long awaiting playground we received funding for last year is now expected to be completed in Term 1 of 2023. We had hoped that we would see it installed on the site of the old school oval, between the kitchen portable and the Year 5 portable hub this year, but construction delays have unfortunately impacted that timeline.
Country & Culture Day - Thursday 15th September
Country and Culture Day is our annual event to celebrate our many and diverse First Nations people and cultures. For our younger students, it will be their first experience of this special event as we have had to cancel it for the last two years due to Covid. We are so excited to be able to hold this event again. It is an opportunity for all our students to participate in a range of hands-on activities and to learn first-hand from a variety of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander educators. Activities this year include dance, ochre painting, yidaki (didgeridoo) lessons, damper making, boomerang throwing and much more. Family and friends are invited to join us for our special assembly in the morning (from 9-10am). This will be held in the gym and will include performances by our visitors as well as our students. We hope you can join us in our celebrations!
Parking changes and reminder for Kiss and Drop zones
New parking signage has been installed in the Mitchell St/Buena Vista Drive car park. Eight of the car parks in this parking lot have now been designated as 5 minute parks. Please make yourself aware of where these parks are and ensure you adhere to the new restrictions. Periodically, traffic infringement officers patrol the areas around the school. Be mindful also that the Kiss and Drop zones on Grand Boulevard and Reichelt Ave are for 2mins only and you must stay with your vehicle.
P&F Announcement – School Fete, 19th March 2023
Parents’ and Friends’ have also started work on a school fete to be held next year. In March 2019 they held their first school fete on the eve of our first covid-19 lockdown. The fete was a big success and the date for the follow up fete has been delayed until now. They are very excited to be planning for another fete next year and combining the event with our neighbours at Panorama Heights Pre-school.
P&F would like volunteers to assist with the planning and preparation for this fete. In particular we require help with sourcing silent auction donations and assisting with various aspects as required. If you would like to assist on a small or more involved scale please email secretarymspspf@gmail.com; all help is gratefully accepted.
Lunch Time clubs
Lunchtime clubs are offered to students who wish to explore a range of interests.
Tech Club - Tech Club is on every Thursday at lunchtime and is run by our ICT/STEM captains, Noah and Brady. After surveying the students, we had a lot of students interested so we have been rotating through the year levels. Our Preps and Year 1s learnt how to code using Scratch Jnr and our Year 2s have tried our soccer robots. Next week 2C and 2D will have an opportunity to use the robots. Next term we will invite other year levels.
Lego Club – A big thank you to the Grandage Family for their generous donation of Lego. This is a great start but we are still short of enough Lego to commence our lunchtime Lego Club. Please consider donating any Lego you can spare so that we can get this Club going.
Dance Club
Dance Club is run on a Wednesday at lunchtime in the gym. Each week different year levels are rotated with an announcement made at lunch eating time each week.
Lunchtime Library
Lunchtime library is every Friday at lunchtime. The students can read books, play board games, draw and complete craft activities.
Kids for Climate Action
Students from 3-6 meet weekly with Michelle Bardsley to discuss and implement new ideas to help improve M.S.P.S from a climate point of view. In the past the Mondo Bin was introduced outside the school which has been a great addition. Currently we are discussing Nude food Lunch boxes and recycling of soft plastics.
Lunch Orders – Boots and Barley (Tues & Thurs)
My Mum and I offer school lunches on Mon, Weds and Fri - www.mymumandi.com.au.
For lunch orders Tues and Thurs, Boots and Barley Café now offer online ordering of two lunch pack options. The sandwich pack include a sandwich, cookie or muffin and cut apple (optional). The sausage roll pack includes a sausage roll, muffin or cookie and optional cut apple. Orders must be placed online only by 9am for delivery by 11.15am. www.bootsandbarleycafe.com/order-now
eSmart Week
This week is eSmart Week. It is part of the Alannah and Madeline Foundation which our school is a member of.
eSmart Week encourages the smart, safe and responsible use of digital technology.
Each class will complete activities on topics such as digital footprint, messaging, cyber safety, privacy, passwords, sharing information, managing time online and more.
Dates for the diary
Please check the calendar on our website for regular updates https://montysouth.vic.edu.au/community/#events
- eSmart Week – starting Monday 5th September
- Mon 12th Sept – Year 5 Camp (Mon to Wed/2 nights) to Anglesea
- Thurs 15th Sept – Country & Culture Day/Last day of school – 3.30pm finish
- Friday 16th September - Pupil-free Curriculum Day
Term 4
- Monday 31st October - Pupil-free Curriculum Day (Day before Melb Cup)
- Monday 19th December – Final day of school for students
- Tuesday 20th December - Pupil-free Curriculum Day
Leanne Sheean
Principal
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‘Montmorency South is an inclusive learning community where students are inspired to be respectful, creative, curious and independent learners.’
Our Belief:
We believe that every person in our Montmorency South school community has the capacity to assist each student in attaining our vision.
Motto - Together we learn, lead and achieve