Principal's Report

Dear families and friends of MPW,

Well, we are on the home stretch for the end of another school year. After two years of lockdowns, this has been our first full year back onsite with students. And hasn't it gone quick! It has been a busy, fun and rewarding year in many ways. We have been able to welcome back our full camping program, excursions/incursions, whole school events and welcoming parents/carers back on site to be more and more involved throughout the year.

I would like to thank the teaching and education support staff who again have been exemplary in how they have managed this year for your children. They have taken time to speak and work with children to reacquaint them with the social norms, reconnecting with parents and as always striving for the best academic and wellbeing outcomes for all students. Working together, the relationships between school and home are important to ensure we continue to do our very best for all. As they say, ‘it takes a village to raise a child’ and this year we have had the opportunity to support each other more once again.

I would like to also acknowledge and thank the support of Kim Simmons, who has been out of her class in Term 2 and 4 this year to support student wellbeing and leadership support and Jeff Wilson, who we had in term 3 for this support. I would like to thank and acknowledge the work of our Business Manager Sandra Monaghan and the administration team, and who have also been a great support throughout the year.

I would like to thank the parents, students and School Council for their commitment, patience and hard work throughout this year. As we have moved out of COVID restrictions, back to a new normal, and a full year at school. I hope you are able to have a restful and hopefully warm summer break, if the sun actually comes out for us.

Class Placement for 2023

Today, we had our transition day. Your child was able to meet their class and teacher for 2023. The morning was full of excitement. We have placed all students with at least one friend from their list, teachers have taken time to consider social and academic mix of the students and we have considered the important information provided by all to best place students for next year. The session ran smoothly this morning.

Year 6 Graduation

Tomorrow, Wednesday December 14th is our graduation. We welcome parents/carers back onsite for this significant night for students. We have also been able to secure someone to support with the live streaming of the graduation, to ensure we can provide the opportunity for those unable to attend the option to watch. This includes one of our year 6 students who is currently travelling overseas and not able to be at graduation in person. I have been a part of the MPW graduation the past couple of years and it is truly a student focused and student run evening, making it more memorable for our students.

End of year and final assembly

A reminder, the last day for our students is Monday December 19th, dismissal is 3.30pm. Tuesday December 20th will be a curriculum day/time in lieu for our new teaching teams to plan together. Camp Australia will offer their service for those who need.

Our final assembly will be this Friday December 16th at 2.00pm on the Tiger Turf, weather permitting. We will draw the Christmas raffle, have some student items and send off our leaving families, staff and year 6 students. For those students who have been waiting all week, we will also have the ‘principal sliming’ from the Fun Run. We hope to see you there.

Confirmed student free days for 2023

The following student free days have been endorsed by School Council for the 2023 school year:

Friday 27th January – Curriculum Day
Monday 30th January- Curriculum Day
Monday 24th April– common professional practice day for all staff
Monday 14th August – Curriculum Day
Monday 6th November – Curriculum Day
Wednesday 20th December- last day of school for the year

Families leaving MPW

As the school year ends, we will be saying farewell to families who have had a long association with the school over time. I would like to thank our departing families for their support, encouragement and contribution over the years. Congratulations and best of luck to our year 6 students who move on to the next stage of their school.

Staffing for 2023

I would like to thank and acknowledge the contribution and efforts of the following staff members who will be leaving MPW at the end of the year to pursue other opportunities in 2023:

Tim Cannan, Elizabeth Kandiliotis, Reece Wilke, Bill Abrahams, Alana Polydorou, Pilar Martinez and Miranda De Virgilio.

Sadly, I announce that Vicki McCormack will be retiring at the conclusion of the 2022 school year. Vicki has been a significant part the school, we thank her for her contribution over many many years.

I welcome to MPW for the 2023 school year Liz Jackson (returning from leave), Sophie Hedditch (from the ACT) and Stefania Lipoma.

We are currently finalising our Learning Specialist role for the next 3 years, the focus of this role was determined at the conclusion of the School Review this term and is a classroom based role that will have a focus on supporting staff to further enhance our quality teaching and learning practices.

At this stage, we still have one unappointed position that we are currently in the process of completing for one of our classes for next year, we will announce this as soon as an appointment is made.

The school has also started a process to secure an Assistant Principal for the beginning of next year.

Finally, I am excited and grateful that I have been successful in the appointment of the Principal position at Moonee Ponds West. I look forward to supporting the school, students, staff and community into the future. It is an exciting time to lead the school, coming out of our recent School Review and beginning the work for the new 4-year Strategic Plan and with our upcoming Capital Works upgrades.

Happy holidays to all!

Regards,

Jarrod Sutton

Principal