Latest news
Acting Principal’s Report
At Moreland Primary School, we welcome and support students from all cultural and religious backgrounds.
Within our diverse school community, a number of our families will be preparing for Easter and will be fasting as part of lent. The orthodox community will be celebrating easter a week later, and baking lots of biscuits, holy bread and dying hard boiled eggs. We also have families, during the holy month of Ramadan, which along with a focus on good deeds, prayer and morally good behaviour, comes the requirement for those who are healthy to fast during daylight hours. Ramadan begins at sunset on Saturday, April 2, and ends on the evening of Monday, May 2.
To families that celebrate Easter, “Happy Easter to you all.”
To our Greek and orthodox families, Χριστός Ανεστη and Καλό Πασχα and Среќен Велигден.
To our families that don’t celebrate Easter, hope you have a lovely break and enjoy the time with your families. We also wish all our Muslim families “Ramadan Kareem,” which translates into “Have a generous Ramadan,” and “Ramadan Mubarak,” “Happy Ramadan.”
Gratitude Journals
Our classes continue to use Gratitude Journals with children often starting their day with the opportunity to learn and write about being grateful, showing kindness, being a team player and many other important life skills and attributes.
It was lovely to visit several 1/2 classrooms last week, hear from students and read their reflections on the beginning of school in 2022. Wellbeing and strategies like gratitude journals will continue to be a focus for the school in 2022 and will form a major part of our upcoming school review processes and strategic direction for the next four years.
Staff Leaving
Today we said farewell to Harriet who is now awaiting the birth of her third baby. We wish Harriet and her family all the best with their impending new arrival. Tom Pinchen-Hogg will be taking the class until the end of the year.
Mai Lovelock will be ceasing employment at Moreland PS, as of the end of term 1. Mai has not made this decision lightly but has done so for personal reasons. On behalf of all staff, students, parents and the Moreland PS community, we wish Mai all the best and hope she gets to spend precious time with her family.
Mai has been a great asset at Moreland PS. I have only known Mai for a short period of time, but know she will be dearly missed by all. We are currently in the process of advertising for a Japanese teacher to commence in term 2.
The Ride & Stride program
We excited to announce that Moreland Primary are one of three schools selected to participate in Moreland City Council’s Ride & Stride program for 2022!
The program is designed to get more of our children and families moving safely and sustainably, and will deliver a range of activities over the year to enable more of our students to ride and stride to school. We look forward to working with our families and council to understand barriers and ways to improve walking and riding to Moreland Primary through this project.
The Ride & Stride program will be launching in Term 2, so watch this space!
Have a lovely break everyone and enjoy the time with your families. We look forward to seeing everyone back in term 2, nice and refreshed, ready for lots of exciting learning and fun-filled events.
Maria Giordano
Acting Principal
School Council
The new School Council met for the first time on Monday March 21. We discussed the upcoming School Review, exciting plans for a school library and confirmed the membership of several Council sub-committees (Finance; Parents and Carers; Education; Buildings Grounds and Environment, and Grants).
The School Council plays a role in establishing the broad direction and vision of the school. We also assist in maintaining good governance (ensuring processes are followed; that school business is conducted fairly and transparently; that we fulfil Department of Education and Training [DET] requirements). Our primary consideration in making decisions is that they are in the best interests of our students. Members of School Council are parents/carers of students at the school or DET employee members. We’re all focused on trying to make MPS the best possible place for our students.
Here is the MPS 2022 Council:
Lee Cath
Parent Member, President
Our family joined the school community in 2020 and I have a daughter in Year 5 and a son who will start in Foundation next year. I have a background in social work and law, and love working with children and young people. I have experience in educational governance and volunteer management. I’m interested in improving the way we collaborate within the school community.
Alice Crowley
Parent Member, Vice President.
I have two children in grade 6 and my eldest son graduated from MPS in 2020. This is my fourth year on council. I have previously been Secretary, Vice President and President. I work in communications.
Maria Giordano
Council Executive Officer, Acting Principal
Over approximately 30 years, I have worked in all areas of education, including my experience in Early Childhood, Kindergarten, Primary, Secondary, University level and Special Education. This has provided me with a unique holistic perspective on education and an understanding of how to make a difference for all students. I also reside in Coburg and know what a great community it is! I have an open door policy, so please come and say hello.
Hana Dennaoui
DET Member, Acting Assistant Principal
I have been teaching for 16 years and have undertaken many leadership roles including Learning Specialist, Numeracy Leader, Professional Learning Communities Instructional Leader and worked alongside the Hume/Moreland region in their roll out of various initiatives.I am passionate about creating optimal learning environments where students are encouraged to be curious, take risks, challenge themselves and more importantly have fun.
Mark Evenhuis
Parent Member
I have a grade 1 at MPS. I have a background in children’s rights law. At the moment, I am working at the Commission for Children and Young People, where I advocate for the rights of children and young people in contact with the child protection and youth justice systems. I can also make coffee.
Andrew Hurton
Parent Member
My daughter, Abigail just started in prep. I’m really excited to get closer to the school and the local community. I’m fascinated by the way we all learn, evolve and perceive the world, particularly from a young age. I’ve had a pretty varied career and life and hope I can bring some great perspective to the school via the School Council.
Kynan Lawlor
Parent Member
I have two kids, in Grade 2 and 4, and my job is as a scientist, studying cell biology and tissue regeneration. I am interested in inclusive education and increasing opportunities to support our students’ diverse interests and ways of thinking.
Jeff Martin
Parent Member, Treasurer
My children are in Grade 4 & 6 and we joined the school community in 2016. This is my second term on council, having also served in 2017 - 2018 where I convened the Building & Grounds and Grants sub-committees. My education is in engineering which underpins my analytical approach to understand and work through the matters that come before council. This time round I’m serving as Treasurer with an interest in improving council’s financial oversight and developing a guideline that can be used by future Treasurers.
Cody Moore
Parent Member
I have two daughters at MPS, in Year 1 and Year 4. When I'm not running around after the kids, I'm working in marketing and student recruitment at the University of Melbourne. I love getting involved with the local community and organising fundraising events!
Belinda Slomo
DET Member, Minutes Secretary.
I have 2 daughters at the school in Grade 3 and Grade 5 and have worked at MPS since 2017. I started at the school as the Communications Administrator and then moved into the Business Manager role last year after Tansy left.
Please come and say hi to us if you see us around the school. Let us know of any issues you think School Council should address. (Bear in my mind we can’t address any operational issues as it’s outside our role, but we’re always happy to have a chat and point you in the right direction whenever we can!) If you are interested in joining any of the sub-committees, please let me know.
Lee Cath, School Council President. Lee_cath@yahoo.com
PnC report
Thanks to everyone who has joined in the fun at our recent Coffee Morning and Whole School Breakfast. These events are volunteer-run and raise valuable funds for our school, while building our community after the last few years of social isolation!
Here's a sneak peek at what's coming up in Term 2:
Eid ul-Fitr event – Thursday 5 May: Celebrating the end of Ramadan (details to come).
Mother's Day events – Friday 6 May: Our famous Gift Stall and Hamper Raffle
Donations required – Mother's Day Gifts
At MPS we offer a range of gifts that students can buy to celebrate the special women in their lives on Mother's Day.We are looking for donations of:– small pot plants (e.g. succulents)– small jars of jam or honey– handmade jewellery or accessories
Hamper donations (new items only)
Can you pick up an extra item or two at your next grocery shop for our fundraising hampers?
– Chocolate
– Tea/coffee
– Wine/non-alcoholic beverages
– Soaps/candles
– Gift vouchers/books
Please deliver all donations to the office.
Thank you!
The PnC committee
Comics Club
Comics Club has been a huge success in term one with abundant creativity and it has been wonderful seeing familiar and new faces each Monday. Comics Club will return in Term 2!
