Principal's Report 

Dear Parents, Staff and Students of MPWPS,

Here we are almost at the end of another school year! With periods of home learning returning, home learning, it has been topsy turvy and look how well we have managed.  Coming back to onsite learning we have all had to revisit exiting structures and adjust. We have met friends again and had to re learn  the skills of getting along with everyone.

Your class teachers have been exemplary in how they have managed the ins and outs, ups and downs of the return for your children.  They have taken time to speak at length with children to reacquaint them with the social norms that might have waned from lack of social interaction, calling parents with positive affirmations, negotiating the reluctant learner or the child that as the term marches on feels anxious about their next steps.  All these actions and decisions occur daily in the life of an educator who is not just a teacher.  As parents your focus is your child and that is how it should be.  Working together enables the child to branch out from the home to the community as the adage states ‘it takes a village to raise a child’. My point, we are a strong village of which I am proud and I am guessing you are as well. 

Class Placement for 2022

Today is ‘step-up’ day.  Your child will meet their class for 2022. It is a day of excitement and an occasional nervous tummy.  The teachers have worked on the social and academic mix of the students and we have considered the important information provided by parents.   We have placed all students with at least one friend from their list, and teachers have taken time to consider many other aspects.  The natural transition points (where we can mix students) moving from years 2 into 3 and out of 4 into 5. 

The classes are monitored until April so please be positive if your child is a little apprehensive.  Remember the breaks provide time for all children to get back together.

Parent Survey

Thank you to the parents who provided feedback via the Department’s survey for 2021.  We have a small prize for families who participated. These family names were put into a hat and a winner was drawn. This year the prize has been won by Sarah Coghlan.

Thank-you to Hampers with Bite (a MPW family) who have generously donated the prize. 

Year 6 Graduation

It is on next week, Tuesday December 14.  Unfortunately, we don’t have an indoor space big enough to meet the indoor requirements for COVID regulations and so we will be ‘live streaming’ the graduation into the living rooms of our families and staff. This year we have hired a professional company to do the live stream and it will also be captured for a USB to be shown at everyone’s 21st birthday celebrations.  As the 5/6 students are in the 5/6 bubble and mix outside, they will be able to do their graduation presentations in mixed grade groups, practising outside over the next few days. They will eat their own items of food together in a shared space (room 11 and 12) as they did in 2021. The MPWPS graduation is one of the best I have experienced even under these not so normal situations. I look forward to welcoming the families of our graduating students.

Final Assembly

The last day for our students is THURSDAY DECEMBER 16th. Friday December 17th 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. 

 We will conclude our year with a final ‘open air’ assembly.  Like last year parents/carers will be included and welcomed.  We will draw the Christmas raffle and have some student items. We will farewell our Year 6 students first and then dismiss from the assembly point.  A little piece of normality will return.  It will be a fun event so move everything from your calendar. The assembly will commence at 2.30pm. 

Families leaving MPW after many years

As the school year ends, we will be saying farewell to families who have had a long association with the school over time.  The list is long.  Thank you to the following families for their support, encouragement and feedback over the years. 

Your contribution will be missed. Remember once a Moonee Ponds West student always a Moonee Ponds West student.  A badge of honour. 

Well that’s about it from me. Until we meet in person, my personal thanks for your continual contribution to our strong home-school partnership. I wish you all a happy and safe holiday period. 

Kind regards

Kerri Simpson

Your Principal.