Newsletter - 27 March 2024
- Principal's Highlights
- Student Voice
- Safeguarding Lead
- Easter Raffle Draw!
- Class Spotlight - Prep/1FT
- Oval Update
- Questacon Science Circus Incursion
- Every voice is valuable
- Children with Anxiety - when to seek help?
- Open Library
- Celebration Assemblies
- Harmony Day
- Reading at Mount Nelson PS
- Music at Mount Nelson Primary
- When your child should stay at home
- From the School Association
- Community Noticeboard
- School Calendar
Principal's Highlights
Our School Association AGM will soon be up us!
The Mount Nelson Primary School Association undertake an integral role in our school. I would like to thank all our office-bearers and volunteers on our Mount Nelson Primary School Association Committee who work tirelessly to support our school in many ways. With your help they raised a lot of money over the last few years and helped make substantial improvements to the school, including our new oval! It is also a wonderful opportunity to collaborate with other parents, community and staff members to support our school in the development of our school improvement plan and have input into school policies and procedures.
The Mount Nelson Primary School Association (MNPSA) is holding its AGM on Thursday, 2 May at 7 pm in the staffroom. All parents/carers and staff are members of the School Association and are welcome to attend the meetings.
The MNPSA meets about 8 times per year, in the afternoon (2 - 3 pm) or evening (7 - 9 pm), with the opportunity for some additional engagements at various times.
We are always looking for parent or family members who feel they would like to help us make a difference and improve our school. If you are interested in becoming involved, we would love to have you join us. Nomination forms are available from the school office or by following this link:
Not only are we looking for new Association members but particularly for a Treasurer and Chairperson.
Gemma, our treasurer, is stepping aside and we thank her very much for her time and hard work. So, if you have accounting skills or interested in learning about the Treasurer role – please consider applying for the role!
We are looking for a new Chair with new ideas and skills. We thank Mary for her hard work and enormous contribution to MNPS over many years and we look forward to collaborating with her on the general committee. While attending events and helping out is part of the role, any new Chair or Co-chair it is not required to do this to the extent previous Chairs’ have done.
The role of the Chair is to encourage families and community members to participate, facilitate the Association to work as a group and work with the principal with new initiatives and ideas coming from our school community.
If you would like to speak with someone on the current committee to discuss the parent/carer representative role or being a part of the Association, please call or email Mary on 0423 365 988 or mnpsassociation@gmail.com
We look forward to seeing as many parents/carers as possible!
Wishing you all a safe and happy easter long weekend and we look forward seeing you back next Wednesday! 🐰
Catherine Grace
Principal
Student Voice
Hi, it’s the school Executives and we would just like to update you on what has been happening in the school lately.
So, as you may know the election was on Saturday and we held a barbeque and cake stall, we also had a plant sale too!
We would just like to say thank you to all the people that helped and brought something, it really helped us and now we can make our Canberra dreams become a reality.
The total amount of money we made was around $6,500! This helps us so when we go and do more fun activities.
This Wednesday, we are drawing the Easter Raffle - we are wishing you all the best of luck! We hope that you get to eat some delicious chocolates after school!
India, Ivy, Henry B and Joe M - 2024 School Executives
Safeguarding Lead
Easter Raffle Draw!
Thank you to everyone who purchased an Easter Raffle ticket! We raised over $1000 for our upcoming Grade 6 trip to Canberra!
Congratulations to our winners:
- Dora
- Angus M
- Billy
- Alisa
- Joe F
- Esther
- Anna B
- Liz H
- Kristy S
- Robert C
- Saifan
- Tom R
- Boomer
- India/Lara W
- Joe F
- Yashi
- Jodi F
- Oliver O
- Boomer
- Eva A
- Sandra D
- Summer N
- Alice B
- Louis Y
- Lorraine
- Shell
- Stephanie K
- Trisha B
- Saifan
- Janelle D
- Abigail C
- Stephan S
- Huxley C
- Anna B
- Jodie D
Class Spotlight - Prep/1FT
Prep/1FT created an egg-periment using chocolate eggs and a variety of everyday materials. They worked together to decide on four different materials to wrap the hollow eggs in. The eggs were then posted back to Mount Nelson Primary School. Students posed questions, made predictions, and worked together to investigate what materials they thought would work best. As a class they voted and decided to test out foil, cardboard, wool and Ghania (cutting grass). Blake and Vinh predicted that the foil would insulate the egg and trap the heat inside causing the egg to melt. Some students suggested that manipulating the cardboard into a box would be the most efficient way to protect the egg. However, there was concern that the egg may move around in the box and break.
The eggs made their way back to school and the class unwrapped each one. They discovered that the cardboard and foil were the most suitable material as those eggs remained undamaged. The wool wrapped egg came back squashed and in many pieces. The egg wrapped in Ghania had a small crack in it. There were many surprised people! Students recorded their observations and shared their thoughts with their peers.
Oval Update
Our oval looks amazing – it had it’s first “haircut” on the weekend.
It will have a top dress coating applied over the next couple of weeks as well as a good feed and will be closely monitored.
We are hoping to have access to it by around week 4 of Term 2.
We can’t wait! 🌱😊☀
Questacon Science Circus Incursion
The Questacon circus people came to MNPS and set up some interesting science experiments. Two experiments they did was what liquid can make bubbles and how can you make a piece of paper aerodynamic. For the bubble experiment Sam first tried to make a bubble with water but it did not work, next Sam tried using dishwashing liquid to make a bubble and it worked well. He made some other shaped using the bubble makers and the dishwashing liquid also he started to use the bigger bubble makers and the bubbles became larger and the students became more excited. The biggest bubble Sam made was big enough to fit one of the students. For the other experiment (the aerodynamic one) Emily and Sam had a piece of paper each and everyone had to guess whose piece of paper would drop to the ground first. Emily’s paper dropped first because she let go of her paper first before Sam’s, then they tried it again and it was a tie. There were two small plastic people one was attached with a parashute and the other without a parashoot and we had to guess who would get to the ground last and I thought the person with the parashoot would win and that’s what happened.
James Malan, 5-6AH
Every voice is valuable
Whether this is your first year at MNPS, or you’ve been part of the school community for a little longer, every voice is valuable. Committee membership, event coordination, coaching, or cooking sausages… there are so many ways to connect and contribute.
Nominate for the School Association Committee, or volunteer for other opportunities via the form on Qkr!
Children with Anxiety - when to seek help?
We were lucky enough to welcome Lisa Ford once again to share her insights into anxiety with our parents.
One of the things Lisa discussed was when it’s time to seek help for children with anxiety.
Seek help when your child’s worry/anxiety stops them from doing things they really want to do, interferes with friendships, schoolwork or family life, or is distressing for your child.
- Your child’s GP or paediatrician can refer to a child psychologist
- School Social Workers can be an excellent support system
- Cool Kids Anxiety program (run at UTAS) or BRAVE online program
- Consider: drama, yoga, massage or other strategies for the mind or body.
Below is a link to The Brave Program below.
Open Library
We will be opening our School Library from 8.30 - 9 am on Wednesday's before school for parents to come in with their child to change books or read with them.
Due to there being no teacher on duty throughout this time, parents need to stay with their child the whole time.
Celebration Assemblies
Our next Celebration Assemblies will be held on Monday 8 April (Group A) and Tuesday 9 April (Group B)! ⭐
Harmony Day
On Thursday, 21 March 2024, students across the school celebrated Harmony Day by dressing in clothes which reflected their culture or wearing orange. Harmony Week is the celebration that recognises our diversity and brings together Australians from all different backgrounds.
It’s about inclusiveness, respect and a sense of belonging for everyone.
Students in 4/5/6S celebrated by creating flag art to represent their heritages, sharing prawn crackers from China, learning about coins and sports teams from Canada and eating (nut free) chicken satay and coconut rice from Malaysia!
Reading at Mount Nelson PS
Being able to read is foundational to everything we do – learning, working, functioning in society.
Every young Tasmanian should have the reading skills they need for life when they leave our schools. Reading is a priority set by our department across all schools and our own reading data highlights it as a priority for us. The skills that are part of comprehending, finding evidence in the text and questioning are a focus for us this year in the teaching of reading. Aligned with this is the focus on building vocab through reading such as Guided Reading and spelling. At Mount Nelson Primary School, we are committed to using a structured and evidence-based approach to the teaching of reading throughout the school.
We are providing our learners with evidenced based instruction in all classrooms. Research from both Australia and internationally confirms that learning to read requires explicit attention by families and teachers to focus on what is called:
“The Big Six.” 1. Early and ongoing oral language experiences, 2. Phonological awareness, 3. Phonemic awareness, 4. Fluency, 5. Vocabulary and 6. Comprehension.
Using screening and ongoing data collection to identify learning gaps and ongoing evaluation to monitor teaching and learning.
Our teachers and support staff are working hard to plan and teach reading. Some of this teaching is to support children to learn the components of words. Learning to hear sounds, read and recognise sounds in words is fundamental to success with reading. Explicit teaching of phonics and targeted intervention in small groups by our support staff is part of our intervention strategy this year.
Our reading priority is core business for us this year as a focus on reading translates not only to better reading outcomes for our students but also impacts their ability to write well, spell, improve grammar and punctuation and improve their numeracy.
All educators, from birth to Year 12, have a role to play in supporting children to learn to read and continue to build their reading skills throughout their education.
Music at Mount Nelson Primary
"I really like paying the xylophone and the ukulele in music. Because they are easy and play and it’s fun." - Nate, 1-2BC
"I love when we get to play some music games and get to try out new things and new instruments." - Summer, 1-2BC
When your child should stay at home
From the School Association
Veggie Gardens Update
Dear handy people,
As you may know, we are nearing completion of the school veggie garden beds! There are already a few keen parents working on the finishing touches, and we are reaching out to see if you might be interested in lending a helping hand (or green thumb)!
Are you handy with tools? If so, we'd love to have your expertise as we finish off the job. A few hours of your time would make a big difference and help cultivate a productive learning space. Here, all the kids will connect with the garden classroom, exploring whole ecosystems, plant biology and explore the wonders and excitement of growing their own food!
We can work around your availability, and would be over the moon if you could volunteer your time. You'll get to see the fruits of your labour (and maybe some veggies too) for years to come.
If you're interested and available, please contact our Gardens Coordinator, Amelia, at amelia.fowes@utas.edu.au
“I always knew friendly faces”
As parents we care about the friendships of our children while they’re at school. Contributing to the life of the school through the School Association Committee is a great way to meet new people and build your own friendships too.
Nominations are now open, and all parents and carers are warmly invited to nominate.
Canteen News
Our next canteen is Friday, 5 April 2024
Qkr will open from Monday 1 April. Orders close Wednesday, 3 April at 9 pm.
Cookie of the week will be Choc Chip!
Community Noticeboard
Auskick Invitation
WHEN: 8 weeks; 7 April & 14 April + 5 May to 9 June
WHO: Girls and boys generally in Prep and Grade 1
TIME: Sundays 8.30 am to 9.20 am
VENUE: Lower Queenborough
COST: $75 (covers registration and football pack)
CO-ORDINATOR: Steven Hay
If you would like your child to participate, please register into the Sandy Bay Lions Auskick program: https://www.playhq.com/afl/register/92ce64
