Principal's Report 

Welcome Back!

It is simply wonderful to have our students and families back at school for what promises to be an amazing 2021.

It seems that our school community has had a restful, yet re-energising break and we are all ready to make the most of the year ahead. With the rapid progression of our new school buildings, we have lots to look forward to and, more importantly, we have some significant whole school events and learning opportunities to experience as well. Keep up-to-date with what is happening for our school, and at our school, through the school newsletter and Sentral notifications.

We welcome all of our 2021 Foundation students and congratulate them on a successful start to school. We welcome all of our new Foundation families, as well as the families that have joined us with their children across various other year levels.

2021 Staff

K-F PLC – Laura James (Leader), Claire Smith, Ellie O'Connell, Kate Ryan and Laura Boadle

Year 1/2 PLC - Bek Gear (Leader), Lauren Jew, Blair Thompson, Rick Donat, Ben Mitchell and Sarah Bigmore

Year 3/4 PLC - Lyndal Brown (Leader), Josh Loader, Casey Johnstone, Liv Flynn

Year 5/6 PLC – Nikki Allen (Leader), Kylie Riddoch, Hannah Missen, Kyra Ives and Michael Searl

Specialists PLC - Megan Polson - Performing Arts (Leader), Katherine Donnan & Emily Wood - Physical Education and Deirdre Bleicher – Visual Arts.

Tutors - Liz Hay & Hollie Horbury

Administration - Alison Major & Simone Drabsch

Education Support Staff - Narelle Karslake, Claire Wallis, Julie Oxlade, Alyson McPhan, Bek Buckley, Carlye Cheesman and Angela Sharp

Kindergarten Educators - Dionne Deverall, Emma Jeffrey, Hannah Burridge, Lindelle Sinclair

OSHC - Holly Scanlon, Ebony McSparron, Jayde McSparron, Amanda Meyers, Dana Arber, Angus Gove

Brad Maisey (Handyman), Phil Kalluri (IT), Jess Winter (Chaplain), Kerri & Brad Maisey (Cleaners)

Before and After School Procedures 

We would like to extend genuine thanks to our families for adhering to the new procedures at the beginning and end of the day. Please note: students are expected to arrive at school no earlier than 8:45 am. Unfortunately, we are unable to provide student supervision prior to 8:45 am each morning. If you need to drop your children at school earlier for any reason, we strongly recommend that you take advantage of the wonderful services that the Miners Rest K-6 OHSC offers.

Following current arrangements, students are to enter the school grounds after 8:45 am and make their way directly to their classroom to engage in readiness for learning.

At 3:20 pm, students will be encouraged to exit the school grounds and promptly make their way home if walking, riding, or being collected. If waiting for collection, students will be expected to wait patiently within the school grounds, at the front fence.

2021 Curriculum Days

The following dates have been approved and scheduled to support professional learning for our teachers during this year.

1. Curriculum focus: Wellbeing (Friday 5 March)
2. Curriculum focus: Numeracy (Tuesday 9 March)
3. Curriculum focus: Literacy (Tuesday 4 May)

ConnectEd 2021

We are very pleased to offer the parent education program, ConnectEd to all of our families again in 2021. ConnectEd provides highly valuable and engaging learning experiences for all parents wanting to maximise learning opportunities for their children. This program is based on educational research and offers practical ideas and strategies that will guide parents in supporting their children’s learning in all areas of literacy and numeracy. We offer morning and evening sessions to cater for the different needs/obligations of families and we support the ability to attend with free childcare. Please speak to your classroom teacher or contact the school office for more information or to enrol.

School Crossings

The start of the school year is a great time to support and educate all primary aged students on the correct decision making and use of the 'manned' crossings.  Marianne is a wonderful & caring supporter of all Miners Rest K-6 students at the Howe Street crossing and she will be joined by another two supervisors at extra crossings this year.

We have been extremely fortunate to receive an additional two supervised crossings to assist our students and families crossing nearby roads to get to school. We are waiting for the final red and white posts to be placed to signify a designated official school crossing, with crossing supervisors then being appointed. While we are awaiting the official posts, we encourage families to be practising taking the appropriate paths and crossings to familiarise all of our students with the pathways. It is crucial that we all train students to use the crossings both on their way to and from school, should they be practical. Maximising the safe use and educating students is a shared responsibility. Please ensure their long-term future is secured, by teaching your children the 'new' correct way to school.

Whole School Assembly

Families are warmly invited to join us this Friday for our first assembly for the school year. Join us via WebEx, meet our 2021 School Captains and help us welcome the new school year. The assembly will commence at 2:45 pm and we look forward to seeing you.

Meeting Number: 165 455 3959

Password: mrps

Thank you

Lastly, but certainly not least, I would like to thank our school community for the support that has been offered during this last week. The news about Dale was certainly unexpected and did shock our school community. However, our entire staff has committed to ensuring the most positive start to school for all stakeholders that we could possibly achieve. And, we have achieved just that. With Dale on a positive road to recovery, it is great to be able to look forward to the year.

Have a wonderful rest of the week,

Kylie Nissen

Acting Principal

I acknowledge the First People of the Wathaurong, who are the traditional custodians of the land and waters on which I work and live, and pay my respects to the Elders of the past, present and emerging.