Newsletter - 11 April
- Principal's Highlights
- UFLI at Mount Nelson Primary
- Class Spotlight - 1/2
- Staff Spotlight - Chantelle McAlonan
- The Thinking Teacher
- Student Voice
- Calendar
- Attendance
- Sport News
- Bag-A-Book Thank you!
- Grade 6 Canberra Trip
- 2026 Kinder Enrolments - NOW OPEN!
- School Road Crossing
- Mother's & Special Persons Day Stall
- City to Casino!
- From the School Association
- Student Achievements!
- Celebration Assembly - Group B
- Little Seeds - LiL
- Chess at MNPS - Term 2
- Community Noticeboard
Principal's Highlights
The Value of Our Buddy School Program
At Mount Nelson Primary we are proud of our Buddy School Program and the positive impact it has on our students. This program pairs older classes with younger classes, creating a supportive and friendly environment
The program makes our school a welcoming place. Our students, especially those in lower grades, feel less anxious and more excited about coming to school because they know they have a friend to help them.
Here’s what some of our students have to say about the Buddy School Program:
When I’m with my buddy I like to play on the slide. I am a self-manager because I have to make sure I am a good role model to them. ~ Yanry (4-5-6 Student)
When I’m with my buddy I like to play with them all around the kinder playground. I contribute to help them have a safe place away from home. ~ Andrew C (4-5-6 Student)
When I’m with my buddy we like to Share the trucks. I am a collaborator by sharing the trucks with everyone in the sandpit. ~ Eno (4-5-6 Student)
When I am with my buddy, we like to make bush craft because it’s fun and they help us. ~ Mahina (Prep Student)
- When I am with my buddy, we like chatting and hanging out together in the bush. ~ Evie (Prep Student)
- When I am with my buddy, we like exploring bugs together.
~ Maize (Prep Student)
We are committed to nurturing a sense of belonging and community at MNPS. The Buddy School Program is a key part of this effort, and we are excited to see its continued positive impact.
Celebrating Our Students' Achievements
We are thrilled to share how proud we are of our students for their outstanding performances in our recent assemblies. Standing up in front of peers, teachers, and parents to present is no small feat. Our students have shown remarkable self-management skills and dispositions such as bravery, stepping out of their comfort zones to share their thoughts, ideas, and talents. Our students have also showcased exceptional communication skills. They have effectively conveyed their messages, engaged their audiences, and expressed themselves with clarity and confidence.
These skills are essential for their future success, and we are proud to see them developing so strongly. We attribute these remarkable achievements to our focus on key assets such as collaboration, communication, and self-management. By fostering these skills, we create an environment where students feel empowered to take risks, support one another, and manage their own learning and behaviour effectively. This approach sets our school apart and ensures that our students are well-prepared for future challenges.
As we continue to nurture these important skills, we look forward to seeing even more growth and achievements from our students. Thank you for being a part of our school community and for encouraging our students to reach their full potential. Together, we can continue to celebrate and support their incredible journeys.
Wishing all our families a safe and happy holiday break, and a wonderful Easter. We look forward to seeing you next term! 🐣🌼
Catherine Grace
Principal
UFLI at Mount Nelson Primary
This term, our Prep to Year 2 classes have begun implementing a dedicated 30-minute teaching block aligned with the UFLI (University of Florida Literacy Institute) program’s scope and sequence. This exciting work is aligned with the Lifting Literacy priority with teachers working collaboratively to ensure consistent and effective routines in the delivery of these lessons.
Meanwhile, our Year 3–6 teachers are building their understanding of the Department for Education, Children and Young People’s (DECYP) selected literacy program, Word Origins, which develops spelling for primary children concentrating on morphology. This program will be introduced into daily classroom practice from the beginning of Term 2.
We are proud of the commitment our teaching team is showing as they engage in professional learning and embrace these evidence-based approaches as part of our Literacy block. We look forward to sharing more about the content and impact of these programs as the year progresses.
Class Spotlight - 1/2
What has been happening in 1-2?
Students have been interviewing fellow classmates to learn a little bit about their cultures and what it feels like to come to a new country.
In maths we have been representing numbers in different ways and checking out each other’s work to see how they have done it.
We are busy building a shop and other imaginative play areas in our classroom. It is in early design stages. Stay tuned!
Phonics is a big part of our week. We start each day with explicit lessons reinforcing our phonetical awareness and application.
On Friday afternoons we sometimes work in groups or alone to complete a given challenge. First challenge... Bridge building!
Staff Spotlight - Chantelle McAlonan
What is your role at Mount Nelson Primary
School Social Worker.
Can you tell us a little bit about your background and experience before coming here?
I lived in Far North Queensland, and I worked in the wellbeing space working with young people from remote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities in Cape York & Torres Strait Islands.
What do you like to do in your spare time?
In my spare time I love to bake, especially anything sweet or pastries, go fishing and play golf!
Do you have any pets?
I have two cats, Swanny & Pebbles.
Where is your favourite place to travel to?
Cairns to visit my family, friends and go swimming.
What’s a fun fact about you that most people don’t know?
I have a twin!
If you weren’t in this role, what other career would you pursue?
I’m not sure, but something that would mean I get to travel.
The Thinking Teacher
At Mount Nelson Primary School, our values of respect, achievement, care, adaptability and being a team player guide who we are as a community. Our learner assets of thinking, collaborating, self-managing, researching, contributing, and communicating are what enable us to become the best learners possible. This is an inquiry approach to learning and the foundation for our beliefs at Mount Nelson Primary School.
So, if this is our expectation of our students, what kind of learners do we expect our teachers to be? On Monday, David Gilkes, our educational inquiry consultant, returned to work with the ‘deep divers.’ This is a team of teachers willing to delve into their own practice, be critical, accept feedback and ultimately stretch themselves to the next level of teaching and learning.
In our state, there is a significant push for teachers to understand the science of teaching. You may be aware of the attention currently on the explicit teaching of phonics, for example. The explicit teaching of phonics should be an essential and non-negotiable component of every early childhood class. But… let’s take a moment to reflect on the art of teaching.
The art of teaching is the ability to engage, excite and provoke. Knowing when to speak and when to listen. Knowing how to question to deepen learning and understanding. It is difficult and challenging to teach this way, but the rewards are great. The reward is the Mount Nelson child who can question, challenge and justify their thinking and ideas. Why is this important? It’s important because the Mount Nelson child will become an adult with the skills and dispositions to not only survive but thrive in an ever-changing world.
The best learning environment is not one that focuses on the science of teaching or the art of teaching. It is one that embraces the science of teaching and the art of teaching. The team of teachers who worked with David will bring their learning and expertise back to the larger team of teachers, ensuring that the learning is embedded throughout our school.
This is why the Thinking Teacher is an integral part of fabric of Mount Nelson Primary School.
Chantal Fox
Student Voice
Term 1 has come to an end and in this last week we have some really exhilarating things happening. We had the Easter Raffle on Wednesday - the Easter Raffle has been a big part of our School and as School Executives we are thrilled to be a part of it. Congratulations to the people who won an award - We raised a whopping $1,945! 💚💛
- Lucy S
- Kyler
- Meklit
- Andrew Sullivan
- Teddy N
- Jamie K
- Thea S
- Jericho D
- Sophie A
- Juliet M
- April R
- Kyler
- Alex M
- Isabel
- Eamonn
- Kristy S
- Astrid
- Kydan D
- Lily T
- Marco P
- Hugo C
- Larpa
- George B
- Tom Rib
- Tom Re
- Tomas O
- Florence L
- Stephanie K
- Janet M
- Wendy M
- Nate S
- Sophie C
- Eamonn
- Lucy A
- Thea S
- Dylan S
- Jason B
- Reuben
On Monday the grade fives went on an excursion to Molesworth where they did multiple activities based on surviving in the bush. They made damper and built shelters as a team they had lots of fun and can’t wait to have fun again.
We wish you all a fun and creative holiday!
2025 School Executives
Grade 5 Molesworth Excursion
Calendar
Attendance
A big well done to all our families for a fantastic attendance rate in Term 1! It’s wonderful to see so many students at school each day, ready to learn, play, and grow together.
While we’ve had a great start to the year, we know we can do even better! Every school day matters – when students attend regularly, they build strong relationships, develop important routines, and make steady progress in their learning.
We understand that sometimes getting to school can be a challenge. If you're finding it hard to get your child to school each day, please don’t hesitate to reach out. We’re here to help, and we’re always happy to work with families to find solutions that support your child’s learning and wellbeing.
Let’s aim high in Term 2 and continue building positive habits that will set our students up for success!
Sport News
From the House Captains:
On 31 March, selected students from Grade 3 – 6 went to the Domain Athletics Centre to compete against other schools in the Interschool Athletics Carnival. We took a bus to the Domain and there were seven other schools competing against us on the day. Everybody tried their best and represented the school well. There were running events and field events throughout the day and some students competed in four different events over the day!
Our school finished 5th overall and represented the school really well! A huge thank you to Sophie Parcell and Leng Chung for volunteering at the carnival. We have had 15 students be selected to participate in the Champions Athletics Carnival on Friday April 11 – congratulations to:
- Poppy T
- Heather
- Florence L
- Hannah
- Dasha
- Rose W
- Sophie A
- Lara
- Leah
- Mae
- Violet F
- Ellie
- Tom Ri
- Tommy J
- Teddy
From the School Executive:
In our Monday Morning Assembly just gone, we had Shane from Bike Safety come and talk to our school about how to be safe on bikes. He talked about how to check if your helmet fits right, Shane taught us that if you can fit two fingers between yore strap and chin and the helmet is tight on your head then it fits right. He also taught us to slow down when coming to driveways as cars don’t always notice you. Shane talked about always checking when you are about to cross a road and make sure that no cars are coming. Make sure to have fun and be safe when riding in the holidays!
2025 School Executive
Bag-A-Book Thank you!
Thanks to everyone who supported our Bag-a-Book day this year! It is always great to see the excitement on students faces as they ‘Bag their Books’! We raised over $700 which is amazing, and I had lots of fun spending some of it on new books for the library that will be ready for borrowing in Term 2!
Sheree, Librarian
Grade 6 Canberra Trip
Time is flying by, and the Grade 6 Canberra trip is fast approaching.
This is a friendly reminder of the payment schedule for the trip:
16 December 2024 Payment 1 $200.00
10 March 2025 Payment 2 $450.00
14 April 2025 Payment 3 $450.00
30 May 2025 Payment 4 $250.00
Payment details are outlined on the invoice and all payments are to be finalised by Friday 30 May 2025.
If you have any questions or require further information, please feel free to contact the school.
2026 Kinder Enrolments - NOW OPEN!
We are now starting to look at enrolments for Kindergarten 2026 (born in 2021).
We encourage all families with children who will be starting Kindergarten in 2026 to fill in their details below!
School Road Crossing
We have been collaborating with State Growth to explore the possibility of securing a school crossing guard for our crossing. This process involves a detailed assessment, including the traffic volume and the number of students who use the crossing daily. We’ve just received confirmation that the assessment will take place during the first week of Term 2.
We will keep you updated!
Sandy Fenton
School Business Manager
Mother's & Special Persons Day Stall
Looking for a fun holiday activity? Now is the perfect time to start creating something special for our Mother’s Day Stall, happening in Week 2 of Term 2 (Wednesday, 7 May)!
If you’d like to donate, there will be a collection box at the office once school resumes.
Popular past donations include small plants, books, jewellery, cosmetics. 🪴📚💍💄
Handmade or store-bought, every little contribution helps! Thank you for your support
City to Casino!
Join the Mount Nelson Primary School team in the 2025 City to Casino fun run!
When: Sunday, 18 May 2025
What: Hansen Orchards 2.7km run or walk
Click on the link to join the team: https://raceroster.com/registration/a6bec7a9-8dba-49eb-8bb3-35a43a606aad/entry?team=792314 or search “Mount Nelson Primary” in teams list.
Wear your uniform and run/ walk at your own pace & we could win a prize for our school!
Keep a look out for Mount Nelson Primary teachers this year!
If you would like more information, please contact mnpassociation@gmail.com.
From the School Association
All parents and carers are warmly invited to the School Association AGM, Wednesday 7 May, starting at 6:30pm. We'll meet in the School Staff room, with an online link available if you can't get there in person.
Let us know you're coming, or if you'd like a Zoom link, using the registration form below or by email to mnpsassociaton@gmail.com
Student Achievements!
Congratulations to five of our Mount Nelson students who played in The Cricket Hub Junior Indoor Cricket Final tonight (Tuesday) — and won!
Well done to Henry F, Hugo McC, Harrison O, Cooper S, and Huxley on your amazing team effort and sporting success. What a fantastic achievement - we’re so proud of you all!
If your child has been selected to be part of a representative team, has won a prize in performing arts, has a part in a major stage production or any other significant achievement outside of school, let us know via the webform below so that we can share the news and celebrate the achievement in our school newsletter. Let's celebrate!!
Celebration Assembly - Group B
Congratulations to all students who received a learning award at our Celebration Assembly last Tuesday!
| In recognition for... | ||
Prep | Philip | his ability to think and share his ideas around our new Inquiry into motion. Philip has demonstrated excellent communication skills when expressing his thoughts to the team. |
| Rose T | her dedication and perseverance with her attitude toward her reading. Rose has demonstrated that she’s willing to ‘embrace the mistake’ and be an amazing learner. |
| Isaiah Q | his positive attitude toward transitioning from Kindergarten to Prep. Isaiah is doing his best to be a team player and collaborate with others. |
| Isabel | her kindness and willingness to help everyone on our team. Isabel is an excellent self-manager, not only with her learning but also with her emotions. |
1-2 | Scout | enthusiastically taking on feedback and applying it to her learning, and working hard to be a considerate and compassionate communicator especially when looking out for others. |
| Eleanor | showing excellent skills as a contributor. Eleanor shares her culture and knowledge throughout our Inquiry discussions and setting high standards and sharing new ideas through her speech presentations. |
| Dylan | having a positive attitude and showing wonderful flexibility and collaboration skills in all aspects of the school day, especially when working in pairs or small group situations. |
| Thea | bringing a positive attitude to class each day and showing maturity in her learning, demonstrating excellent researching skills and enthusiastically sharing her knowledge with others. |
2-3Yellow | Chevaya | showing persistence and resilience in overcoming learning challenges. Cheveya is developing her ability to communicate her needs and advocate for herself as a learner. Her determination and commitment to improvement in these moments make her a great self-manager who embodies the school values of ‘Care’ and ‘Achievement’. |
| Sema | being an independent learner who approaches new challenges with enthusiasm. Sema demonstrates a great attitude towards learning and works well with her peers, showing respect and care in all that she does. Her ability to adapt and take on new ideas with confidence makes her a fantastic ‘Self-Manager’ and ‘Thinker’. |
| Makbel | showing a positive attitude and a willingness to learn each day. Makbel is growing in confidence and is making great progress in his learning. He is developing his skills as a self-manager and team player, demonstrating the school values of ‘Care’, ‘Adapt’, and ‘Achieve’. His perseverance and effort are truly commendable. |
| Ted B | being a thoughtful and insightful learner who shares his ideas with confidence. Ted consistently completes his work to a high standard and demonstrates a depth of understanding on many topics. His ability to think things through carefully and contribute meaningfully to discussions shows that he is a ‘Thinker’, ‘Communicator’, and ‘Team Player’. |
4-5-6 | Theo | his positive contributions to reading groups. Theo is always respectful towards his peers, and he consistently contributes insightful and considered responses. Excellent work, Theo! |
| Ida | her positive contributions to reading groups. Ida confidently and enthusiastically shares her thoughts during group discussions, displaying focus and initiative. Well done, Ida! |
| Saifan | his focus and enthusiasm for learning. Saifan approaches each day with a positive attitude and is always the first to contribute his ideas to class discussions. Well done, Saifan! |
| Steve | his excellent persuasive text. Steve used the ‘TEEL’ structure to create a detailed text with great sentence structure and persuasive ideas. Great job, Steve! |
5-6Yellow | Buzz | showing the school value of ‘Respect’ and ‘Team Player’. Buzz demonstrates respectful behaviours to others whilst also being an upstander and encouraging others to do the right thing at Mount Nelson Primary. |
Eva | taking the role of house captain in her stride. Eva has taken on challenges with a smile, showing our School Vaues of ‘Care’, ‘Team Player’ and ‘Adaptability’ to a range of circumstances. | |
Akarthna | showing the school value of 'Care'. Akarthna goes out of her way to welcome everyone at Mount Nelson Primary a kind good morning and asking how someone is. She has taken on our Inquiry into connection with a strive to be her best. | |
Antonio | showing the School Values of 'Strive' and ‘Respect’. Antonio has taken on challenges within the classroom with resilience and a strive to achieve the best he can. Antonio does this whilst always showing the upmost respect for everyone in the classroom. |
Little Seeds - LiL
Little Seeds Calendar for Term 2!!
We hope to see you all there 💚
Chess at MNPS - Term 2
Community Noticeboard
Royal Hobart Hospital Research Foundation’s Easter Egg Hunt on Good Friday!
Are you looking for a fun and festive way to celebrate Easter with the family? Join the Royal Hobart Hospital Research Foundation for their much-loved Easter Egg Hunt on Good Friday, where kids can follow fun clues around the lawns of Government House to find their very own bag of Easter eggs! This exciting event is a wonderful way for families to come together, enjoy the fresh air and kick off the long weekend with some Easter magic.
📅 Date: Good Friday, 18 April 2025
📍 Location: Government House Lawns, 7 Lower Domain Road, Queens Domain TAS 7000
⏰ Time: 10am to 2pm
🎟 Tickets: $25 a child, $12 per adult or $60 for a family ticket *prices here exclude GST & ticketing fees
Spots are limited, so be sure to book early! For more details or to secure your place, visit 2025 Royal Hobart Hospital Research Foundation Easter Egg Hunt.
