From the Principal's Desk

From the Principal’s Desk

Together we learn, lead and achieve.

Dear Monty South community, 

It has certainly been a while since our last newsletter and apologies for my tardiness in getting it out. It feels like we just started the term and now all of a sudden, we’re in week six. 

Nevertheless, it has been a good start to the 2021 school year. Teachers have been busy re-setting school routines and making connections with students. To assist in enhancing student engagement, we organised many extra-curricular activities such as Kaboom Sports, City Robots (from Melbourne City soccer club) and in Grade 3, Mad about Science-Chemistry chaos. This is in addition to our usual curriculum and specialists’ classes. 

This week, we have the Mad about Science group working in Grade 5, as well as our Prep ‘Welcome to Country’ and assembly. There will be a CURRICULUM DAY on Friday 5 March and so students will not be attending school on this day. 

Please note the next curriculum day will be on Monday 19 April (first day of Term 2) where the staff will be undertaking First Aid and anaphylaxis training. All important school dates can be found on the Compass calendar.   

School Council

It is that time of the year, where we thank and farewell council members and begin the process for re-nomination.  We sincerely thank the following council members for their time, dedication, support and contribution to MSPS during the past two years.  

Parent Members

Adam Bird, Vanessa Edwards, Cecelia Ramsdale, Marcus Ward.

Community Member

Matt Cross (Matt has only served one year but has relocated to regional Victoria).

DET Member

Amanda McDonald.

Please note all departing members are welcome to renominate.

The role of school council is to be the voice of the community and strengthen community confidence in the school. It provides a strong link between the parent community and the school.Understanding the distinction in the roles and responsibilities between school council and the principal supports the effective and efficient operations of the council and the school.

The objectives of the school council are to:

• assist in the efficient governance of the school
• ensure any decisions affecting students of the school are made having regard, as a primary consideration, to the best interests of the students
• enhance the educational opportunities of students at the school
• ensure the school and council complies with any requirement of the Education and Training Reform Regulations, a Ministerial Order or a direction, guideline or policy issued under the Education and Training Reform Act.

These school council objectives must be taken into account by school council members when exercising any of their powers, duties or functions.

If you are interested in nominating yourself please complete a nomination form, which will be made available via Compass but can also be picked up at the office.

Meetings in 2021 will more than likely be held via Zoom or a combination of onsite and Zoom. 

Please don’t hesitate to contact me if you require more information. 

Catch up tutor program

We know remote learning last year was different for every child. While some students thrived, some did not fully engage. For most students, our regular high-quality teaching, along with our extra-curricular programs, will be enough for them to progress to the expected level of learning in 2021. Some students will benefit from additional intensive learning support.

As you may be aware, in response to this, the Victorian Government is investing $250 million in the Tutor Learning Initiative to enable schools across Victoria to engage around 4100 teachers as tutors in 2021 to support students who need additional assistance with their learning. Schools will determine how this initiative is best implemented for their students and will ensure students will get this support in a way that minimises disruptions to other learning of school activities.

We have been looking at data from last year and identified students who need support. These students range from those who did not progress or only progressed six months and are below standard to those who are above standard but still did not progress or only progressed six months. Students who did make 12 months progression but are still behind are also being supported, however the Tutor program is only intended for those who did not progress the 12 months. If your child is going to be involved, the teacher will notify you and keep you up to date with progress made. Additionally, the school used $34,000 to put towards funding for our 1.7 tutors (Amanda McDonald, Jac Rapsey and Mady Thomas). This money was set aside to for our playground equipment. 

Playground equipment

Speaking of playground equipment, a few students and parents have been asking when the new playground equipment is coming.  Last year, we looked at three designs and the one the children loved the most (Mount Disappointment from Adventure Plus) was deemed by School Council as too tall and too expensive with a completion price tag of around $130,000.So the Student Action Leaders (SALs) and the captains (PALs) selected another design, which was deemed safer and less expensive, coming in around $80,000. The fete held last year raised $25,000 towards this equipment and so we set about trying to save the extra money while at the same time applying for grants. I managed to salvage around $40,000 and along with the $25,000 we were nearly at our target.Unfortunately, with the requirement by the Department of Education to contribute $34,000 to the Tutor program, the playground does look out of reach at the moment. Vanessa Edwards from School Council has applied for an Inclusive school’s grant but there will be many schools also applying. We are also looking at other options such as leasing. We currently lease our oval and at the end of the lease we have the option of paying out the lease for a nominal fee. We will continue to work towards accessing additional play equipment but we are constrained by funding issues. Nevertheless, it is something we are working hard to achieve. 

Resilience

Talk in classes at the moment is focussing on resilience and how we need it and use it in everyday life. We are also developing the sense of community and what it means to give back and how strong and resilient communities are built on trust, respect and team work. There is a real sense of connectedness around the school at the moment, which is great to see.With this in mind, I thought there might be some parents who are interested in books that promote resilience. Here are a few we recommend:

Children’s storybooks promoting resilience  

Most of these books are available in public libraries or through online booksellers. Letters in parentheses, after the author’s name, indicate which of the seven resiliency abilities are highlighted in the book.

Key: (ER) = emotional regulation

(IC) = impulse control

(CA) = analysing cause of a problem

(SE) = self-efficacy

(E) = empathy

(O) = optimism

(RO) = reaching out 

Aliki, Feelings (ER) (IC)Mulberry Paperback Book, 1984

Pictures, poems, and stories that portray various emotions – jealousy, anger, fear, joy, excitement, and others.

Asch, F., Moondance (ER) (IC) (O) (RO)

Scholastic Inc., 1993

Little Bird helps his friend Bear challenge some negative beliefs and follow his desire to dance with the clouds, the rain, and the moon.

Blake, Q., Mr. Magnolia (O)

William Collins Sons & Co., 1980

Mr. Magnolia’s positive attitude helps him cope with having only one boot to wear, by focusing on all the things he does have.

Bottner, B., Bootsie Barker Bites (SE)

G.P. Putnam’s Sons, 1992

A shy girl is intimidated and terrorized by a bully named Bootsie until she stands up for herself and discovers the bully is really a chicken.

Buchanan, J., It’s a Good Thing (O) (SE)

Annick Press, 1984

Daydreamer Marie discovers her own sense of competence when she saves her sister 

MSPS achievers

Congratulations to the MSPS swimming team who last week won the Montmorency and District swimming sports. Not only did they win it but their behaviour throughout was exemplary. Then they followed up this success at the division swimming event with most MSPS students coming away with a ribbon. We are very proud of all of them! Special mention to Jessika Blair, Genevieve Spina, Ava Coombs, Charli Walters, Hope Christian who are all going through to regionals in a few weeks’ time.

Congratulations to Oscar Whitmore who is also going to regionals but is representing MSPS in tennis. It has been a few years since we had a student qualify in tennis, so a great effort.

Kudos to some of the MSPS kids who had some great achievements last year at 1st Lower Plenty Scouts. In the Cubs section Grey Wolf awards were awarded to Amy Thomson and Charlie O'Donnell (Grade 6). In the Joey's section, Joey Scout Promise awards were awarded to Edison Lee and Stephen Toohey. 

The Grey Wolf Award is the pinnacle of the Cub Scout Section and so you can understand our pride in the achievements of this group of Cub and Joey Scouts.

Woo Hoo to Daniel Jurdi (Grade 2) for his selection in the MAGS High Performance gymnastics team for 2021. To gain selection, Daniel spent most of his school holidays training hard. It certainly shows his dedication and persistence so we are very proud that he has been successful.

School Privacy Policy

The Department of Education and Training (which includes all Victorian government schools, central and regional offices) values the privacy of every person and is committed to protecting information that schools collect.All staff including contractors, service providers and volunteers of the Department, and this Victorian government school (our school), must comply with Victorian privacy law and this policy. In Victorian government schools the management of ‘personal information’ and ‘health information’ is governed by the Privacy and Data Protection Act 2014 (Vic) and Health Records Act 2001 (Vic) (collectively, Victorian privacy law). This policy explains how our school collects and manages personal and health information, consistent with Victorian privacy law.

I have included an attachment of this policy for your information.

Important dates

• Friday 5 March Curriculum Day
• Tuesday 9 March Resilience Project commences at MSPS
• Wednesday 24 March siblings school photos
• Thursday 1 April Easter Bonnet Parade Prep – Grade 2 students 9.30am in gym
• Monday 19 April – first day of Term 2 Curriculum Day

 PLEASE NOTE, A LIST OF DATES CAN BE FOUND BOTH ON THE COMPASS CALENDAR AND ON OUR WEBSITE.

Best wishes

Leanne Sheean