Moonee Ponds West Primary School

Principal's report

Welcome Back

A warm welcome back to everyone following the term break. The second (next) week of term 4 is a curriculum planning week for staff – which entails a few changes to the specialist timetable to accommodate team planning meetings (Creative Arts, Japanese, PE). The regular timetable will recommence the following week.

Welcome

We welcome Alistair Longley as our IT Technician at MPW. Alistair has been employed by the Department of Education and Training in other school settings and is very familiar with Department's IT requirements.

Enrolment of Siblings for 2017

A further reminder to families who are yet to enrol siblings of current students for the 2018 Foundation year. Enrolment documents are available from the office. Finalising our enrolments for 2018 is an essential part of our planning for the 2018 school year.

Grade Placement for 2018

The demand for places at Moonee Ponds West continues to be high. If you are leaving the school during term 4 or at the end of 2017 please let the office know at your earliest convenience. This will greatly assist our forward planning and also the transition of those students leaving at the end of the year into their new schools.

  • If you have  information of which your child’s teacher is unaware of that may assist with your child’s class placement for 2018 please put your request in writing and forward to Jeff Lyon via email to moonee.ponds.west.ps@edumail.vic.gov.au 

​by Monday 30th of October. This request will then be registered for consideration. In formulating a request please refer to the school's grade placement policy below.

http://mooneewestps.vic.edu.au/app/webroot/uploaded_files/media/gradestructure_pupilplacementpolicy_1.pdf

Maintenance update

Over the term break the windows around the school were cleaned, the stage floor in the gymnasium resurfaced, new protective pads for the football goal posts arrived, outdoor blinds were installed outside the library and inside room 1 and the west wall inside the library was repaired and repainted.

Spring Fling

Our Spring Fling Function is fast approaching. Please see the article within the newsletter regarding the event and how to purchase yur tickets.

Japan Tour

We are very pleased to report on a most successful tour of Japan undertaken by 15 Grade 5/6 students. We’d like to extend a very big thank-you to Fofo Kirkotsios  and Victor Scarcebrook who accompanied the tour group. They were an amazing support. Special thank you to our Japanese language teachers Diana Vivian and Cindy Xu who's shared expertise, passion and knowledge of the language and culture maximised the opportunities for our students. Lastly, a thanks to our students who represented our school so well in all forums, including their homestay, a favourite for many of our students.  We look forward to a presentation at assembly and an upcoming article in the newsletter.

Walk to School month

October is Walk to School month which encourages all students to walk, cycle or scoot to and from school.

A launch of Walk to School month took place at Moonee Ponds West PS last Monday morning.  Thank you to the students and members of the school community who supported the launch, and especially to Bree White. For further information please see the article included in this week's Education News and the links below.

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/jn4lw1ibuyzk4r4/AACr7WY0qSvzOu0G3lQtNqa4a?dl=0

Student Engagement and Wellbeing Policy Working Group

An Expression of Interest for a Student Engagement and Wellbeing Policy Working Group will be forwarded to members of the school community shortly. If you are interested in being a member of this working group could you please consider forwarding your Expression of Interest.

MVIMP

On Thursday 21st September Moonee Ponds West had our MVIMP Concert. It was held in the gym, we had many of the MVIMP students perform an item for the evening. They have be rehearsing over a number of weeks in preparation for the concert. Through their weekly lessons with their tutors they rehearsed an item. It was a fantastic evening for parents, families and students to see what they have been working on throughout the year. Well done to all of the students who performed on the evening and a special thanks to all of the tutors for their work throughout the evening.

 

Upcoming on Thursday 16th November will be the End of Year MVIMP Concert where all four schools will come together for the end of year concert. Over the next few weeks there will be more information about the concert in the newsletter.

Year 2 Sleepover next week

A reminder that the Year 2 sleepover is to take place on Thursday next week.

The Year 2 Sleepover is an important part of our Whole School Camp Program.  This is a special opportunity for students to experience being away from their families for one night and supports a gradual transition to the three-day camp they will participate in as Year 3 students.

The Year 2 Sleepover is held at the school, which is a familiar and non-threatening environment for all students. The Sleepover is heaps of fun and provides an opportunity for students to socialise with others in their year level. The evening involves a local walk, a hip-hop workshop with the students in the gym and a program of fun activities for the night.

Students will be settled in the Performance Space and Library, which are comfortable and self-contained. All that is required on the night is a camping mat (or similar), a sleeping bag, pillow and some great dance moves!

Room 23

Helen Lockart will be on leave for the remainder of 2017. Families of students in Room 23 have been notified that Lauren Klymenko will be continuing the teaching and learning in Room 23 during Helen's absence.

Room 21

Jenny Irvine is on indefinite leave for personal reasons. Families of students in Room 21 have been notified that Jane Ryan will be continuing the teaching and learning in Room 21 during Jenny's absence.

Mental Health Week

This week has been Mental Health Week. If you would like to look into the resources that are available  please click on the link below.

http://www.mentalhealthvic.org.au

 

Enjoy the weekend,

Jeff

Notices home to parent/carers

Friday 13th

Room 21 Letter to families

Room 4 Head Lice Alert