Principal's report
Welcome to/back to MPW Community Picnic
We held our Community Picnic this evening. This was a wonderful opportunity to enjoy a lovely summer's evening on the tiger turf. Thank you to all the helpers on the BBQ and who assisted with the planning and preparation..
Movie Night
On Friday 23rd March we will be holding our annual movie night. This is a wonderful opportunity for community to come together and enjoy a family evening under the stars - weather permitting. Please see the flyer within our Fundraising Events page within this newsletter.
Communications
In response to our recent communications survey to receive your child's activities information via electronic channels, such as by email or through an app, we are starting a 30 day trial of the Skoolbag App on Tuesday 13th February. The trial will be available to community members who have IPhones or Ipads. The App will allow us to update the community with simple push notifications via a secure login. Families will be able to download the SkoolBag App to their phone or table or access it via the website plugin. This app will perform a different function to the internal DET SMS alert system. Please see the reminder re SMS permission forms below.
The App is easy to use and doesn't require any specialist IT knowledge. Look out for your alert on Tuesday.
Staff movements
New Staff:
Jane O'Loughlin
Jane began dancing at the age of 3 and has been involved with the performing arts ever since. She studied contemporary dance and theatre at Queensland University of Technology in Brisbane. Jane grew up in Alice Springs and has recently returned to Australia after living and working in London and Berlin. She is very excited to be introducing the Performing Arts program at Moonee Ponds West this year.
Ben
Ben
Ben Kilby - Ben will be working in the 3/4 team on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, sharing with Adele in room 24. Ben is heavily involved with Philosophy for Children, currently serving as treasurer & memberships officer for the Victorian Association of Philosophy in Schools. He has presented work in this area at conferences in Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Madrid, and Aveiro and will look to bringing this knowledge and experience into the school. Ben also coaches the under 12 girls football team at Yarraville Seddon Eagles.
Ashley Spagnol
We welcome Ashley as our new Assistant principal responsible for the Curriculum portfolio. Ashley has had numerous leadership roles both in schools (Eltham College, Thomas Cook College) and Central Office (Integrity Unit) and has significant experience in the implementation of a cycle of Inquiry.
Departure:
Annette Phillips has accepted a position at the Royal Melbourne Hospital. For the past seven years Annette has been a most valued member of staff who has been tireless in supporting the social, emotional and educational needs of the students of MPW. We wholeheartedly wish Annette every success in her newly chosen career.
Swimming trials
The MPW swimming trials took place today at Queens Park Swimming Centre, students participated in a number of swimming events.
These trials lead on to the district trials. Thank you to the parents and carers who assisted today. For further information please see the Education News.
Reminder - SMS Forms
A reminder to please send back your SMS forms to enable the school to send parents and carers SMS communication, for example, in emergency situations and for student non-attendance at school. By sending back the form with up-to-date mobile and email details parents and carers authorise the inclusion of these details in the sms functionality of the Department of Education’s CASES21 system.
If you have any further questions regarding this could you please contact the office.
Reminder - February Arrangements for Foundation (Prep) Year Students
During the month of February, children in their Foundation year will be attending school 9:00 am to 3:30 pm Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. They will not be in attendance on Wednesdays. Children in their Foundation year will commence school five days a week from Monday 5th of March.
Reminder - Parent Information evenings
Parent Information evenings for each of the Foundation/Year 1, Year 1/2, Year 2/3, Year 3/4 and Year 5/6 teaching teams will be held the week beginning the 12th of February.
Foundation/One Tuesday 13th February
One/Two Team Monday 19th February
Two/Three Team Thursday 15th February
Three/Four Team Wednesday 14th February
Five/Six Team Monday 12th February
The following week is the first of the Parent/Teacher Meet the Teacher meetings. These meeting provide the opportunity for a conversation between teachers and parent/carers in relation to the particular educational, social & emotional needs of children. The scheduling of these meetings takes place early in the year and proves to be an invaluable means of establishing and consolidating communication between teachers and parent/carers and serves to proactively address children’s needs. There will be a further opportunity for Parent/Teacher Meet the Teacher meetings on Wednesday 25th of July.
Reminder - Meet the Teacher Interviews
Throughout the week commencing February 19th teachers will be conducting meet the teacher interviews. The late night for interviews will Thursday 22nd February.
If you have any questions regarding these interviews could you please contact your child's teacher.
Notices Home
Monday 5th February
- Head Lice Alert - Room 2
Thursday 8th February
- Parent Information Evening Grade 3/4
- Parent Information Evening Grade 5/6
- Parent Information Evening Grade F/1
Friday 9th February
- Parent Information Evening Grade 3/4