From the Principal's Desk

Dear Monty South families,

As we begin a new term and the final one for 2021, I want to pass on my deepest admiration to you, our parents and carers, who have endured week after week of supervising home learning while juggling working from home, coping with newborn babies and toddlers, managing your homes and keeping your families safe, amongst other things. Thank you for your continued support with remote learning and all the changes that have occurred this year and will continue this term. 

As my Compass newsfeed stated last week, we will be welcoming back: 

Prep students for three days from Monday 18 October (Monday to Wednesday).

Years 1 and 2 for two days from Thursday 21 October (Thursday and Friday). 

Years 3 and 4 for two days from Tuesday 26 October (Tuesday and Wednesday).

Years 5 and 6 for two days from Thursday 28 October (Thursday and Friday).

All during this time, onsite learning for children of essential workers and vulnerable students currently attending will continue. Remote and flexible learning will continue on days year levels are not onsite. 

Week 5: 

Monday 1 November: Prep students onsite 

Tuesday 2 November: Melbourne Cup Day public holiday

Wednesday 3 November: Prep and Years 3 & 4

Thursday 4 November: Years 1, 2, 5 & 6

Friday 5 November:  All students return

Week 6:

Monday 8 November all students back onsite all days.

Masks will be mandatory for students in Years 3 to 6 indoors at school from Monday the 18th of October. We are awaiting more information from the Department and will communicate it to you once we have it. We will update families via Compass. but if you have any questions, don’t hesitate to ring the office.   

Traditional report writing day

In previous years, we have held a pupil free day on the Monday before Cup Day. However, we will not be offering a pupil free day this term and instead providing alternatives so all staff can access uninterrupted time to start their report writing without interrupting children’s learning time remotely and onsite. 

In order to offer this time to teachers, on Monday 1 November, students in Years 1 to 6 will access their remote learning specialists’ program on this day. Prep classes will run as normal with their teachers onsite, and we will provide alternative times to the Prep teachers. 

Playground works 

Last term, I spoke about the works happening at school while remote learning was taking place. We have completed the path on the Reichelt Avenue side of the school, allowing pram and wheelchair access to the Prep area. 

We have also started a natural playground area on the embankments up from the new pathway.

Here is the concept plan:

Please note, this is in addition to the Inclusive Funds grant we received for playground equipment which will be located next to the kitchen and kitchen garden area. That work was planned to commence some time in Term 4. It is not managed by the school but by the Victorian School Building Authority (VSBA) 

A message from our School Nurse

Dear Parents & Carers,

With the students returning to on-site learning we note that a significant number of student medications and medical management plans are currently expired. I have recently sent out emails regarding this, so please be sure to double check and get in touch with me via email or by calling the school if you have any further question or concerns.

We also would like to remind you that Compass Chronicle now sends parents an email any time their child has been in first aid.

In the email, you will find what happened to your child, what their injuries were like and how they were treated. In the case of head bumps, we will send the email but also as a backup, a note will come home as well. We will continue to call parents when it is serious, or anytime we think you should be very aware of what has happened.

I look forward to seeing you and the children very soon!

Victoria Hall | School Nurse

victoria.hall2@education.vic.gov.au

RHS new uniform retail store

RHS have secured a new retail store which will stock our Montmorency South uniform. 

Location: 1/902 Main Road Eltham 

Opening times

Monday 9-5

Tuesday 9-5

Wed 9-3

Thursday – Closed

Friday 9-3

They moved stock from the existing Ringwood location to Eltham on FRIDAY 8 OCTOBER, so it is anticipated parents won’t be able to access uniform at all from 8 to 15 October. Week commencing Monday 18 October a click and collect service will be offered as well as post to the school as normal.

Due to density limits, the Eltham store will be by appointment only from 5 November – 1 Feb. 2022 Prep parents need to book a fitting time via information on the Prep Flyer. Online remains unchanged, but pickup will be from the new Eltham location. 

MSPS achievers

Congratulations to Jessika Blair who belongs to a pretty awesome aerobics team. Jess’ team won the Victorian State Championships the week before Melbourne went into lockdown 5. This won them a place at Nationals, which was supposed to be held on the Gold Coast in August. With the announcement of the border closures and lockdown, it put a stop to their dream of travelling to perform. With NSW and Victoria locked down, the National championships were streamed online. With no way of being able to record another routine in lockdown, the team sent a recording of the girls’ State championships routine for judging. Amazingly, it won them second in Australia at Nationals. What a brilliant effort under trying circumstances. It just goes to show persistence can make things possible. Well done Jess on an amazing effort. 

Victorian Association for Gifted and Talented Children

An upcoming event for Term 4.    

VAGTC/DET Free Online Parent Q&A – Tuesday November 9 

VAGTC and the Department of Education and Training Victoria are inviting you to a free online parent Q&A panel on Tuesday 9 November 7.30-9:00pm with the following experts in the field of gifted education. For bookings, please to  https://www.trybooking.com/BSKYT. Expert panel consists of: Dr Geraldine Townend

Dr Geraldine Townend is an academic at the University of New South Wales (GERRIC*) in the areas of gifted education, and gifted learners with disability (also known as twice-exceptional students). Her research interests focus on supporting these students to develop their potential in education, including the development of positive academic self-concept. Geraldine conducts professional development for schools including those gifted students who are underachieving. She also provides advice for educators and families, and National and State Associations. Geraldine provides policy advice for governments and works to highlight to the public the challenges that these students face.  https://www.ada.unsw.edu.au/our-people/geraldine-townend* GERRIC - Gifted Education Research and Resource Information Centre Dave Camilleri - Dave Camilleri is a lecturer at The University of Melbourne’s Graduate School of Education. He has worked as a secondary school teacher and university educator for 11 years and has 16 years of experience working with adolescents in a variety of contexts. Despite leaving formal education at 16 without completing secondary school (riding a BMX was far more fun than school), Dave has successfully completed a Bachelor of Arts: Philosophy (Hon.) and Linguistics, Post Graduate Diploma of Education (Humanities & EAL), Specialist Certificate of Teaching for Graduate Researchers, Master of Arts in Philosophy (research), Master of Teaching in Thinking, Creativity, and Knowledge, and a Master of Education in Relationship Skills for Educators. Dave recently submitted his PhD investigating the relationships between engagement, creative ability, and classroom culture with a particular focus on high ability students who are disengaged from regular schooling. He was awarded the Dr Lawrie Shears Doctoral Scholarship in 2016 for outstanding PhD research. A large focus of Dave’s work is in Initial Teacher Education specifically student engagement and wellbeing as well as coordinating placement experiences for pre-service teachers in the Master of Teaching program. Further to this, Dave has a deep interest in philosophy, critical and creative thinking, developmental psychology, and gifted and talented education. He was part of a recent Delphi Panel of experts considering the place of critical and creative thinking in the school curriculum. Jeff Segal - Jeff is currently a leading teacher in mathematics for the Victorian High Ability Program and a trumpet teacher on the online Aeyons platform. He previously held roles as numeracy leader and specialist science teacher at Camberwell Primary School, a bilingual school where maths and science are taught in French. Jeff has many deep professional interests including music, LOTE, mathematics, science, autism, gifted and twice exceptional learners, and inclusive education. He enjoys facilitating professional learning in these areas. As the parent of three twice exceptional children, Jeff’s parenting and professional journeys are closely intertwined. He is excited to be participating in the upcoming DET/VAGTC parenting seminar and is looking forward to connecting with fellow panellists and parents. 

Optional readings

I am often sent articles to read or websites to explore in relation to children and their learning. This is the most recent regarding social media.

Facebook whistleblower Frances Haugen testifies before US Congress, saying the social network hurts kids, fuels division

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-10-06/facebook-whistleblower-frances-haugen-testifies/100516542