Newsletter - 2 November 2023

Principal's Highlights

Dear Families

Wow! What a busy term, this is shaping up to be!

Firstly, I would like to say a big thank you to Margaret and Rachel for taking on the Acting Principal role in my unexpected absence.  As expected, the school is in good hands and running smoothly.  

We welcome Sandy Fenton to our office as Acting SBM for the rest of this term while Michelle is on leave.  Sandy joins us from Taroona High School and has lots of experience managing a busy office in Term 4!  Please introduce yourself and say hello!

We welcome Lucy back from her travels, and also thank both Mel and Sheryl for their fantastic efforts and wonderful support during this transition time in our office.  

Last week was World Teachers’ Day 2023.  I would like to say thank you to each and every teacher for ensuring our students are known, safe, well and learning at our wonderful school.  For inspiring our children to explore, grow, challenge themselves and to learn.  Our teachers help to create brighter lives and positive futures!

Our wonderful learning community has already planned many activities to challenge our students and provide more opportunities for our students to wonder, engage and explore already this term and there are still more to come!

So far this term:

• Grade 3-6 Swimming Carnival
• Grade 6 students participated in the Metro program.
• Champions Athletics Carnival
• Interschool chess
• Taroona High School band visit
• Raising Resilient Children Seminar - Lisa Ford
• Div B Swimming Carnival
• Taroona High Taster Day for Grade 6 students
• 1-2B and 1-2R went to the Marine Discovery Centre

There are many exciting events planned this term so please keep up to date with our Facebook, Class Seesaw, School Newsletter and paper notices sent home.

We hope you had a lovely “long weekend” with your families.  Special thanks to Julie Ransley and Margaret Crosswell who led K-6 Staff Professional Learning towards further developing a structured approach to Reading on Friday last week. Please look out for an upcoming family session for early years parents soon.

Catherine Grace
Principal

Turning Up Matters!

Welcome back to Term 4! We hope you enjoyed school holidays, and are ready for another exciting term.

We all want the best for our children – for their futures to be as bright as possible. Showing up every day to school really matters. It gives your child every chance to learn, grow and find their interests.

This last stretch of the school year can sometimes be tricky. Keep it up, because each day is another chance to:

• be around friends
• learn new things
• find interests
• create dream futures (whatever that may be!).

If you’re looking for tips on how to create better attendance habits, visit the Anything can happen website.

Please always talk to us if you’re having trouble getting your child to school. We’re here to help.

Bushfire Emergency Plan

Raising Resilient Children

Thank you to all the parents who came along to Lisa Ford’s parent workshop focusing on Building Resilience on Wednesday night.  Lisa shared some things we can be doing as parents and educators to support resilience in our children

• Get outside more – studies show being outside in nature improves our mental health
• Allow children to take risks – this enables children to feel confident in their abilities and know their limitations
• Provide children with opportunities to play more, rather than scheduling their time
• Show gratitude by saying or writing down what we are grateful for each day

We look forward to welcoming Lisa back in term 1 next year to work with teachers, students and parents.

Grounds Update

Oval Redevelopment

• Fencing works are currently underway. The majority of these works will be completed late September/early October.  There is a new section of fencing that won’t be installed until after the oval works commence.  This is to allow access for the turf contractor.
• The turf contractor (Total Turf Care) will commence the oval upgrade works in early December.
• The oval upgrade works will be completed in early 2024 but the oval won’t be available for school use until week 2 or 3, Term 1 2024. This is to allow sufficient time for the new turf to establish.

School Grounds

All 4 swings are now up!!  Thank you to Liz and Mikie for ensuring these were put up safely and correctly after a lengthy delay waiting for parts.  We also thank them for making our playgrounds attractive and safe.

Pre-Kinder Sessions

Our exciting Pre-Kinder sessions led by Sarah Chiu are well underway!  We welcome children who will be attending Kindergarten in 2024 along to this program.

These sessions not only support your child's transition to Kinder, but they also are a great way for families to find out about what will be happening in Kindergarten.  Through play, children develop communication and language skills, gross and fine motor skills, social skills, self-management and importantly, they build a sense of belonging and confidence within the Kinder learning community. 

Pre-Kinder runs each Wednesday morning from 9.15 until 10.15 am in the  Kindergarten space.
Just a reminder that parent/carer supervision is required at all sessions

3-4-5S and 3-4G Excursion Reflection

On the 30^th of October 3/4/5s and 3/4G went to the Peacock Theatre to watch a live action show Frozen.  The show had fog machines, singing, dancing, sound effects, costumes, music and much more.

I liked that the people acting weren’t distracting each other and they remembered their lines very well.  I liked these things because I like a show where people work together.  In the end I think they did a very good job!

Daniel, 3/4/5S

On Monday, 30 October 3/4/5S went to the Peacock Theatre with 3/4G to see frozen the musical.  Eleanor (who is a former student) was in the musical and switched between Anna and a snow spirit thing.  Everyone was amazing at singing at the right pitch and acting in character all the time.  I think the snow effect, the lighting, and the fake smoke effect were really cool and made it really interesting. It was also very funny and fun to watch. My favourite character was probably Sven, because he had a great costume and was good at acting, though I did like Olaf as well because the actor was funny, and the costume was quite cute.

Alvina, 3/4/5S

On Monday, 30^th of October 3-4-5S (our class) and 3-4G, went on an excursion to the Peacock Theatre, which is in Salamanca. We saw Frozen, which had Eleanor, a former Mount Nelson student in it. It was cool to see everyone act and sing, I also found it funny. My favourite character was Olaf, the actor that played Olaf was good. After we saw the play, we went to Princes Park. There was another school playing so we had to wait but when we got to play, I really enjoyed it. There was a lot of things to play on. Although I think the best part about the trip today was the play.

Bonnie, 3/4/5S

End of Year Celebration and Raffle

Join us to celebrate the school year!

We’re also holding a raffle, open now via Qkr! or tickets can also be purchased at the Celebration. Prizes include Pennicott Cruise, treats, chocolates and some great vouchers.

Launching into Learning - Term 4 Update

Our Launching into Learning (LiL) program is an inviting space where everyone aged birth to 4 years, and their families can come and communicate, create, and explore different learning experiences.  Our learning space offers a variety of open-ended invitations to play that change weekly.

The term 4 calendar has been planned and released.  We will be designing and decorating a calico library bag each in preparation for our visit to the school library this term.  As always, the sensory tub is full of something to get messy in and endless craft and art fun.  To round out a wonderful year, we will enjoy a picnic at Mount Nelson playground.  We invite past and new families to join in on the fun 😊

Classroom Readers

Your School Association is supporting the School with their literacy focus by purchasing new classroom readers. Can you help with this goal? Donations can be made on QKR.

Success in Indonesian Competition

At Monday’s morning Assembly, we celebrated Mount Nelson Primary’s success in the Statewide Indonesian Language Competition organised by PERGUBIT, the Indonesian Teachers Association of Tasmanian.
As stated by our volunteer judge, Ibu Nita Novianti, all participants showed great commitment and courage to both learn the Indonesian poem off by heart and then be recorded reciting it.

Congratulations to...
Participants Clara, Kai, Zoey, Oscar S, Lars, Ivy D, Jake and Nick T
Honourable Mention recipients Alvina, Maia, Sophie O and Stella B
Stella H for achieving 3^rd in the state for Year 5 and receiving a beautiful wayang kulit (traditional shadow puppet)

Bu Ingrid
Indonesian Teacher

Taroona High School Band Visit

On Tuesday, the Taroona High band came to Mount Nelson to play some music for the school. They played brilliantly in perfect harmony and left the grade 6’s looking forward to their time in Taroona (well, at least most of them). Everyone really enjoyed the music, and we are all grateful for the Taroona band spending their own time to perform for us.
Jake, 5/6M

Practised and rehearsed to perfection!!
Stuart, 5/6M 

From the School Association

We had a great first meeting for the term last week where we planned the Christmas cards, an end of year event for the school community, and began thinking about how to support the school in 2024.  All parents and carers of the school community are welcome to attend meetings as we want to best represent all our children and their experiences at the school!

Canteen Coordinator 2024

A huge thank you to Ainslie Timbs for running the canteen over the last couple of years.  Ainslie will not be continuing as coordinator next year, so we are looking for a new volunteer Canteen Coordinator.  Ainslie will support the new coordinator as they move into the position. 

Contact Mary, School Association Chair, on mnpsassociation@gmail.com for more information.

Black Square Chess!