Principal's Report
Dear Parents, Students, Staff and Friends of MPWPS,
I hope that you are all ok at home during these five days of lock down. Thank you for getting onto COMPASS to indicate your child’s attendance during these three days of schooling.
The teachers have been continuing to plan for the coming weeks, supervising here and deepening their understanding of content and strategies in the important content areas of literacy, numeracy and inquiry.
We have also discussed touching base with students via COMPASS through the Class Home Page. On this page you will also find a three-day timetable of learning as hastily communicated on Friday. Continue to encourage your child to read, write daily and learn their tables (perhaps). We want to see them back at school on Thursday if it is safe to do so.
It’s Shrove Tuesday
A little bit of fun! It’s Shrove or Pancake TUESDAY so why not make some at your place? If you do, there is a wonderful chant that goes like this:
Mix a pancake, stir a pancake
Toss it if you can
Flip a pancake, flop a pancake
Catch it if you can!
The CWA (anyone know what these initials stand for?) cook book (1973) recipe says:
1 cup of flour, pinch of salt,1 egg,1 cup of milk. Make a batter. Let it stand for a little while then add butter to a pan and cook in small batches. When the underside of the pancake is a little brown see if you can toss it and catch with the uncooked side down! Flip a pancake, flop a pancake catch it if you can! A great maths activity with a fun ending!
Parent Reps
We almost have each class with a Representative. Only the following Rooms to go - Rooms 5 and 11. If your child is in any of these rooms you might consider volunteering. The commitment is one - two meetings a term where we ‘chew the fat’ or help each other support the teacher and the school in general. It is a great way to support your school and the class. If you are interested please contact the class teacher via COMPASS (the little drop-down box next to your child’s photo on their dashboard.
Book-Packs
Most children have either the book-pack from our supplier or have filled the list with their parent at another outlet. Having these tools for learning is really important. If you are yet to fill the book pack please contact the Office as we could help. We have a limited number of Book Packs for purchase and can arrange a payment plan. It’s not a problem. The pack that the goodies came in will now be your child’s Library book bag.
Voluntary Contributions
Thank-you to those families who have already made their contribution to the school. The richness of our program delivery is supported by these contributions. Last year we were able to purchase the much asked for soccer goals for all the students. This year in the grounds we plan to finish Jack’s Paddock and continue to develop the planting of the wicking beds. The 3/4 classes learnt such a lot about wicking beds that I am sure there is one in every families back yard.
The ICT contribution will be used to upkeep our devices and to continue the leasing agreements rather than purchasing.
To make our budgets sing, we encourage sending your contribution by the end of this term. Again, if the contribution payment will or could cause hardship, please speak to Sandra in the Office we have a number of different solutions.
MPWPS students
I thought it would be important for you to know that the feedback we get from our secondary colleges regarding our students is so very positive. Our students leave MPWPS with knowledge and skill to be confident and independent learners in a new setting. Their academic skill matches if not exceeds others and this is especially true in Japanese and in general literacy and numeracy. Last year we had four Year 6 students chosen for the Department of Education’s High Ability Program in mathematics and one student chosen for English - writing and reading. We continue in 2021 to have students in this program from year 5. I am proud of all our students as each day I witness their engagement, diligence and joy in learning. One of the great things about MPWPS is that a fine tuning of our academic focus, has continued to enable the wonderful diverse attributes of our school. As I say MPWPS is the jewel in the crown!
Parent-Teacher-Student Conferences
Taking on parent feedback from previous years we now offer a Three-Way Conference in Week 9 to discuss learning goals and seek information from parents around their child and parental learning aspirations. We are planning perhaps a mix of WebEx meetings and onsite, whatever suits the needs of families and teachers. This will be confirmed in communication closer to the time. Our Foundation and One classes are perhaps doing something a little different, as we introduce our new families to the school and the associated routines. Stay tuned.
Finally, we will be rescheduling the Basket Tea. The children were most disappointed last week when we had to postpone. The new date is FRIDAY March 12 at 5.30 pm. Hope this suits everyone’s calendar. A great chance to come together as a community.
Well, until we really can meet in person, stay well and safe.
Kind regards
Kerri Simpson
Your Principal.