From the Principal's Desk

Dear Monty South community,

I had a wonderful welcome back last Wednesday after my return from leave, with the students welcoming me back and asking about my holiday. It was so lovely and I am very appreciative of the students, staff and parents for their warmth and friendliness.

I need to acknowledge the fabulous work of the MSPS staff while I was on leave. They were just brilliant and things ran like clockwork without missing a beat. Special mention to Naomi Ivers, who acted as Principal and Monique Rankin, who acted as Assistant Principal and also Paula Hogan, our Business Manager who does a lot of the management of the school and had to do more. I want to thank them all. I feel very lucky to be supported by an incredible staff and Executive group.

Inclusive grants fund

We had a very exciting phone call last week, followed up by a letter from the Deputy Premier, Minister for Education and the Minister for Mental Health, the Hon James Merlino, MP. It was to inform us that we have been successful in receiving funding for $169,000 for an Outdoor inclusive learning space including new play equipment under Round 6 of the Inclusive Schools Fund.

A special shout out and thank you to Vanessa Edwards who wrote, collated and submitted the application. And to our families such as the Mackay/Dhollander and Marcus Walsh who wrote supportive letters for the application. It really was a team effort but none of it would have been possible without Vanessa’s skill and tenacity.

The project will be delivered by the Victorian Schools Building Authority (VSBA) and in recent correspondence with us it is likely that it will start in the second half of the year and perhaps be completed by 2022. The next step will be the VSBA putting the works out for tender. We will keep you updated as the project progresses.

Introduction message from our school council president – Marcus Walsh

I am proud to be elected the school council president again in 2021. Despite a challenging 2020, I was pleased in my first year as president to see through our four-yearly school review and the end (finally) of our new school rebuild, culminating with that amazing school fete just before the COVID lockdowns began. I was also pleased with the positive and helpful parent engagement through the survey that the school conducted in between lockdowns, and in the way school leaders responded – in what must have been a very trying and stressful times for all teachers. In 2021, I am keen to ensure that school council continues to reflect parents and community perspectives at its meetings. As such, if you have any ideas or issues you think we should be aware of or discuss at our meetings, please send me an email at mspscouncil@gmail.com

Grand Boulevard carpark upgrade

This Banyule Council project has commenced and I thank all our community for your patience. The expected time of completion for this project is the beginning of June. We have noticed that there is an increase in usage in the car park next to Panorama Preschool as a drop off type zone. As it is not formally designed for this purpose, we are putting staff out at yard duty times in this area to help get children from cars if needed or just to make sure they don’t walk behind a reversing car. We ask you be very careful when using this area and mindful that children do not have the peripheral vision that we expect. So consider your speed when entering the carpark and be aware that because you can see children they might not see you.

Year 4 portables

For several years there have been ongoing issues regarding the left side of the current Year 4 portable. There has been mould detected in the teacher office space and despite numerous treatments and various repairs to the ceiling and gutters, it continues to occur.

Subsequently, whilst I was on leave, the Department deemed it no longer a viable teaching space and they will be removing it ASAP. This is planned to occur before the holiday break and within the next few weeks.

The two classrooms, Nerinda Hodgson and Rosie Morton/ Lucy Skipper will move to the spare specialist portables where we have placed our second specialist French class and our second specialist art class.

Presently, site inspections are taking place to ascertain the removal process, access to the site, site works and timeline of events. As details come to hand we will update the school community.

I am looking forward to seeing the space that will be there after the half portable is removed. It will be exciting to have an additional play space and ideas that come to mind include a gaga pit as this was requested by students in 2019. However, we will need to wait and see the condition of the site once the left hand side of the portable is removed.

2022 school year

We are currently taking enrolments for our 2022 Prep year and we have around 70 students enrolled. Acceptance letters will be coming out mid-June, not only for Prep 2022 but also for Bridges to school program which will commence in July 2021.

Applications for the three teacher positions coming up (replacement for Year 1D teacher, for Elise Van Ooi family leave and Rosie Morton family leave) have been advertised and applications have closed. We will shortlist next Monday and commence the selection process.

Important dates coming up

City Robots in Year continues Week 7 and week 8.
Week 8 beginning 7th June - Backflips against bullying sessions for students and Kids Helpline sessions in Year 6.
Tuesday June 8 - School Council meeting
Wednesday June 9 - Instead of virtual assembly it will be a live assembly and presentation of the year level Student Action Leaders (SALS) badges
Thursday 24th June - Parents and Friends Movie Night 6pm. Tickets via CompassTix - https://compasstix.com/e/6nyeja03g7
Friday 25th June - Wellbeing Day. End of Term 2. School dismissal 2:30pm

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

Best wishes,

Leanne Sheean