Newsletter - 14 March

Principal's Highlights

I am so grateful to be part of such a kind and caring school community. Every day, I see students showing respect and friendliness, whether it’s with a cheerful “good morning” or a polite chat in the playground. It’s also lovely to see families sharing waves and quick conversations during drop-off and pick-up. This strong sense of connection is something I truly value, and it reflects the learning we do in our classrooms with our Mount Nelson Primary Learning Assets - helping children feel confident, capable, and empowered.

Last Wednesday, we enjoyed a truly fantastic Athletics Afternoon for our Kinder to Grade 3 students! The energy, teamwork, and excitement were evident all around. Throughout the day, students took part in a mix of cooperative games and running races, embracing the spirit of fun and participation. Events like these are so valuable - not only do they create wonderful memories, but they also help children build confidence, resilience, and a strong sense of connection with their peers.

Building relationships and creating a sense of belonging is so important to us. Last week, at our School Association Meeting, we explored ways to strengthen family engagement in line with our values of Nurturing, Empowering, and Striving for Excellence. Led by our amazing AST, Georgie Field, our Family Engagement Team is eager to hear your ideas on how we can continue making Mount Nelson Primary a positive and connected place. Keep an eye on our Facebook page for more updates!

As we wrap up Week 6, here are some exciting updates from our learning community:

Specialist lessons are in full swing! Students are enjoying Indonesian (Grades 2-6), PE, Science and Technology (P-2), Respectful Relationships (3-6), Music, and Art - offering students a mix of new skills and experiences.

Bush Learning has started for some of our early years classes, giving children the chance to learn and explore in nature.

Daily PE, led by our fantastic Grade 6 leaders, is keeping students active and engaged.

We’ve loved welcoming new and returning families to our Little Seeds sessions on Thursdays! Our recent sessions explored "The Power of Play" and "Cultivating Curiosity," sparking wonder and discovery.

Our Meet and Greet Assemblies every Monday morning bring our school together to reflect on how we apply MNPS Assets and MNPS values in our learning and daily lives, fostering a strong sense of community.

Nurturing Time (8.30 - 9 am across our classrooms) provides valuable support for students and offers a great opportunity for families and teachers to connect, share insights, and strengthen relationships.

Lisa Ford - Grades 3 and 4 recently participated in a friendship building session with Lisa Ford, focusing on developing and strengthening positive relationships. Students explored ways to grow friendships, navigate challenges, and support one another in a respectful and inclusive way

Grade 3-6 Athletics carnival - we are very proud of the very high level of sportsmanship all of our athletes displayed, including those who persisted and went out of their comfort zone to participate in races for their team

Our Reading at Home Program is now rolling out! This initiative provides valuable support to encourage and strengthen home reading habits, helping students develop confidence and a love for reading.

The Grade 5 and 6 Leadership Program has commenced, with our Grade 6 leaders who enjoyed a fun-filled day of learning new skills at Molesworth. Grade 5 students will have their team building day on Monday, 7 April! A big thank you to the staff who are working with students to develop Grade 6 leadership roles within the school.

Just to name a few…….!

Today, you will receive your child’s first progress report for the year. This will give you insight into how they’ve settled into their new class. If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to the school office to arrange a chat with their teacher.

Thank you for being such an important part of our school community - I appreciate all the ways you support and contribute. Looking forward to another great week ahead!

Catherine Grace
Principal

Student Voice

Our school has been up to a lot these past couple of weeks, including the Athletics Carnival! We want to say a big thank you to all the volunteers who helped and made this event possible, we couldn’t have done it without you.

This week the Grade 3's and 5's have been very busy with NAPLAN. This includes maths, reading and writing. We hope to see them trying their best and having a go. It important to always try your best no matter what you are doing.

We talked to Grade 4's and the Grade 6's about what they liked about Daily Reviews. Daily Reviews are a part of a maths trial called Shaping Minds. Here are their ideas:

“I like how you get to work by yourself and challenge yourself with math questions.”
“It’s unique as some schools don’t use it, and it is beneficial to the whole class.” 
“I like how it is a good warm up and gets you ready for the work ahead.”
“I like the math because it teaches us beneficial things that we will need to know in the future.”

Daily review is a good way to learn new things and challenge our brains!

On the Friday before the long weekend the whole school dressed up in our favourite colours to raise money for the RSPCA fundraiser. We managed to raise around $300! We want to thank all the kids for dressing up and parents for helping organise their kids.

Coming up, we have our Easter Raffle! It is a very exciting time for students and parents. Anyone can buy tickets and enter the raffle as many times. There will be plenty of prizes varying from big to small. Good luck to all who enter!

Thank you

Bronte, Eliza, Peter & Emily
2025 School Executive

Reading at Mount Nelson Primary School

This year, as part of our continued focus on reading and ensuring all children are equipped with the skills to read independently and for living and learning, we are asking all families to help us by encouraging home reading. Reading is a vital, life skill. Just like anything we learn and do practice is at the heart of building and maintaining the skill. We know that reading at home is a valuable support to our classroom reading programs and see each year the children that thrive and progress because of home support.

In the next week home reading folders will come home with every child. Please read the letter to parents and the tips for home reading guide. We hope you can support us as we make every effort to ensure all our students learn the skill, joy and purpose of reading.

Reading at home can be varied. For all our children reading to them and sharing books, articles, recipes, instructions is fantastic. We are asking families to also make listening to their child read or discussing what your child is reading part of the weekly routines.

There is a great quote reminding us that “reading floats on a sea of talk”. No matter what age your child is or what is being read please discuss the content, make connections and ask questions. Reading opens up so many opportunities for thinking and learning.

Staff Spotlight - Cyntra North

What is your role at Mount Nelson Primary:

2-3Yellow Teacher

Can you tell us a little bit about your background and experience before coming here?

Previous to teaching I have enjoyed working as a tour guide, in hospitality and have even worked in a library.

What do you like to do in your spare time?

Bush walking, bee keeping, vegetable growing, adventuring with my children and visiting the beach.

Do you have any pets?

My family have one cat called Miso – she’s a calico cat that likes to lay on her back in the sun.

Where is your favourite place to travel to?

The wilderness.

What’s a fun fact about you that most people don’t know?

I have so many half-read books on my bedside table.

If you weren’t in this role, what other career would you pursue?

Professional traveller!

Class Spotlight - 4/5/6

In 4/5/6 we are lucky enough to buddies with the adorable little Kinders. We were the big helpers at their first ever Athletics Carnival. We loved watching and helping them run around and trying their best in the novelty events. The type of events we helped them with were the egg and spoon race, the big beach ball relay, teddy bear race, a short running race and the sack race. They tried their best in every single event and kept a strong growth mindset.

We hope they had an amazing time and are super excited for our upcoming Cross Country. It was an amazing experience being there for our buddies during their first ever athletics carnival!

Sophie and Ellie, Grade 4/5/6 Students

Mount Nelson Soccer 2025

Tips and tricks for Soccer registration 2025

• We strongly advise using a laptop or desktop where possible
• Log on to: https://registration.playfootball.com.au/.../pro.../66149710 or Scan QR code,
• Log into play football/register your account,
• If logged out from school search, Search MT nelson, list view.
• Each T&C has to be opened to continue,
• When asked to select an ID photo, please do not feel obliged to do so, but please select an option from the drop-down box. (i.e. drivers' licence)
• Please ensure to add your child’s preferred shirt size
• Please ensure all sections are completed or you may not be able to continue,
• Jaymie is available to help, please email mtnelsonsoccerclub@gmail.com

Sibling discount codes can be obtained by emailing mtnelsonsoccerclub@gmail.com
Sibling discount code falls under the “Mount Nelson” drop down.

We will be having a registration time for those struggling to register, date TBA
Registrations close 21/3/2025

TICKET TO PLAY (updated)

Who is eligible for a voucher? Applicants must be:

• aged between 5 and 18 years old at the time of application;
• and be listed on a valid Services Australia Health Care or Pensioner Concession card or
• have received Family Tax Benefit A in the previous or current financial year or
• be in approved out of home care or
• a temporary or provisional visa holder, undocumented migrant, or international student.

Visitor & Volunteer Requirements at Mount Nelson Primary

From 9 am – 3 pm, all visitors and volunteers are required to present their Registration to Work with Vulnerable People card (RWVP), Mandatory Safeguarding Certificate and sign in and out at the office before proceeding through the school.

Parents/carers dropping off or collecting a child between 9 am – 3 pm are required to sign their child out at the office. Waiting in exterior areas for your child between 2.50 pm – 3 pm is permitted.

Waiting in corridors/collecting your child between 9 am – 3 pm without presenting at the office is not permitted.

For more information:

• Apply for an RWVP card: www.justice.tas.gov.au/working_with_children/application
• Complete the Mandatory DECYP Safeguarding Certificate: https://decyp-safeguarding.mygo1.com/signup/email

If your application is successful, please present your RWVP card to the office before volunteering or visiting during school hours. Once you have completed the Mandatory Safeguarding Training, please email your certificate to mount.nelson.primary@decyp.tas.gov.au  

Celebration Assemblies

Our next Celebration Assemblies will be held on Tuesday, 25 March (Group A) and Tuesday 1 April (Group B)! ⭐

From the School Association

Planning for 2025/2026

Thank you to those who attended our last committee meeting. We held a short session at this meeting to help plan out our priorities moving into the 2025/2026 association year. An outcome from this session was understanding what you would like to hear from us in this newsletter. If you have any suggestions, please email mnpsassociation@gmail.com. 

Annual General Meeting (AGM)

The School Association AGM will be held on Wednesday, 7 May (Week 2, Term 2) at 6.30 pm in the School Staffroom. All school community members are invited to attend. We hope to see you there!

Nominations open for the 2025/2026 School Association Committee

The School Association is an important part of the school, working with the Principal to achieve shared outcomes for learners attending the school and for the benefit of the whole school community. Membership of the School Association provides a forum for the sharing of knowledge and skills. 

Committee Member Nominations are now open, and we invite all parents, carers, and community members to consider nominating. Nominations close Wednesday, 9 April.

Office bearer positions are elected after the committee is formed with the following positions available: Chairperson, Vice Chair, Secretary and Treasurer.

The 2025 School Association Committee Nomination form can be found HERE

For more information, please reach out to Julie Preston, 2024/2025 Association Committee Chairperson, on 0422 327 018 or mnpsassociation@gmail.com

Easter Raffle

We are excited to announce our Easter Raffle this year, raising funds for our Grade 6 Canberra trip!

To kick things off, we’ll be holding a Free Dress Day on Wednesday, 26 March. Please bring along a donation for the Easter Raffle – chocolate eggs, chocolate bunnies any Easter treats!

Raffle tickets will be sent out to families next week.

Tickets will need to be returned by Monday, 7 April, and the raffle will be drawn on Wednesday, 9 April.

Thank you for your support!

When your child should stay at home

Support for Families

Recipe of the Week!

Have some of our delicious apples? Here’s a great way to use them!

These Apple Muffins are so quick and easy to make – they only take 15 minutes to prep! It’s always handy to make a double batch so there’s plenty to freeze and have ready for afternoon snacks and school lunches.

If your child isn’t a fan of apple chunks, you could grate the apple instead.

Term 1 Calendar

Ride2School Day!

Community Noticeboard