Mill Park Primary School Issue 41

19th Dec 2019

Newsletter

2 – 10 Blamey Avenue (PO BOX 163)

Web: www.millparkps.vic.edu.au
Mill Park 3082
Email: mill.park.ps@edumail.vic.gov.au
Telephone: (03) 9404 3337

Our vision is to be a dynamic school, promoting lifelong learning and our school values of
respect, integrity, compassion and excellence.

TERM 1 – 2020

Week 1:
Wed 29th Jan: Curriculum Day
Thu 30th Jan: Term 1 begins at 8.50am (Year 1 – Year 6)
REMINDERS
Week 2:
Wed 5th Feb: Prep Students begin at 8.50am Tomorrow Friday, 20th Dec
Wed 5th Feb: Prep Parents Morning Tea at 9.05am End of Term – Dismissal
at 1.00pm sharp

FROM THE ACTING PRINCIPAL

The ligh in a child e e i all i ake make Ch i ma a magical ime f he ea - Unknown

One of my favourites- the Christmas Concert was held on Monday! What a great time it
was, celebrating Christmas with our students, families and friends. Everyone really got
into the spirit of Christmas, singing along to all the carols and dressing festively! A big
thank you to my co-host Adam Horne for always making the night that extra bit special.
Thank you to the PFA for organising the Christmas Raffle. Your time, enthusiasm and
energy are greatly appreciated.

Wednesday we had our students meet their 2020 teachers and their new classmates! Teachers and
students spent time getting to know each other and to get excited for all the fun 2020 is sure to bring!

Today was a day of celebration, with students and teachers enjoying time together,
reflecting on all the great times had throughout the year. And to top it off, some early
gif e e e changed h gh cla KK

The final assembly for the year will be held tomorrow, Friday, 20th December 2019, at 9.10am outside
the LOTE room. Our Graduates will perform for the school for the final time.

I always find it sad to say goodbye to our graduates. However I know they are prepared and ready for
their next chapter.
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Please note that the finishing time for tomorrow, the last day of term, Friday 20th
December 2019, is at 1.00pm.
Parents are asked to make arrangements for their child to be collected from their classroom
at 1.00pm tomorrow.

2020 DATES
To help parents with 2020 arrangements, I have included dates for your 2020 calendars.
TERM 1 2020
The 2020 school year will begin for Year 1 6 students on Thursday, 30th January. Please make sure
children arrive at school at 8:50am to begin their learning by 9.00am.

Prep students will be attending by appointment for the first 4 days to participate in the English and
Maths Online testing program. They will begin full time school on Wednesday, 5th February.
Classroom attendance rolls will still be marked at 9:00am, absences will be recorded after that time.

2020 SOFT START- SCHOOL STARTS AT 8:50AM

Next year we are starting the morning with a soft start. Students will enter their classrooms at 8:50am
to unpack their bags, hand in notices, payments etc. Students will be required to read a book and be
ready to start their learning at 9:00am sharp! We are hoping that the additional time spent reading in
the morning will support our students with their learning. Research has also shown that the quieter start
to the day is psychologically a gentler way for children to start their morning. Any information that was
previously shared at morning assemblies will be communicated via Compass.
2020 CURRICULUM DAYS
The Department of Education and Training (DET) allows schools to conduct four Student Free Days per
year. Please note the dates for Student Free Day for 2020:
Tuesday 28th January
Wednesday 29th January
Tuesday 14th April
Monday 2nd November

2020 FAMILY PICNIC

Our first whole school event for 2019 will be the Family Picnic on Friday, 21st February. More
information will be provided early in the New Year.

2019 GRADUATES AFTERNOON TEA

Every year our Year 6 teachers host an Afternoon Tea to catch up ith the pre ious ear s
graduates and find out how they have settled into their secondary schools. The reunion
Afternoon Tea for our Graduating Class of 2019 will be held on Wednesday, 15th April 2020
from 4.00pm-4:45pm. We look forward to catching up with them all and hearing about
their journey at secondary school.

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Parent Teacher Meetings/ Student Led Conferences
Parent Teacher Meetings/ Student Led Conferences have been scheduled for the following dates:
Parent Teacher Meetings
Wednesday 25th March and Thursday 26th March from 3.50 7.00pm.
Student Led Conferences
Thursday 25th June from 2.50pm 7.00pm
Friday 26th June 9.00am 2.30pm.
More information will be provided early in the New Year.

Over the school holidays, installing of artificial turf and rubber matting under the big play equipment
and o nding m lch a ea ill be con c ed Thi ill make a h ge imp o emen o o den
environment and I am looking forward to seeing the project completed!

To all the Mill Park Primary School Community, I would like to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a
safe and healthy New Year filled with love and laughter! Please rest over the holidays and spend quality
time with your families. I look forward to next year and hearing about all your holiday adventures!

Carol Vidmar
Acting Principal

FROM THE ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL

The last few weeks at MPPS have been so exciting and eventful. The Year 6 Graduation Ceremony was amazing
and I thoroughly enjoyed being part of their celebration. Once again the Christmas Concert held on Monday
evening was a highlight of the year.

I would like to wish all the students, families and wider school community a very Merry Christmas and a healthy and
happy 2020. Enjoy the holidays and stay safe!

I look forward to seeing everyone back at school (Year 1 Year 6 students) on Thursday 30th January 2020.

Kelly Spurr
Assistant Principal

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 FROM THE SCHOOL OFFICE

The office will re open for payments on Wednesday, 29th January 2020.

We thank you for all your patience during the year.

We would like to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a safe and happy new year.

Angela Falso, Vivian Gulia and Alison Wylie

Administration Team

CANTEEN NEWS

Please note that the canteen will not be open tomorrow, Friday 20th December 2019. On behalf of
Merita and myself we thank you for your support and wish you all a very Merry Christmas and see you
in 2020.
Lee Taylor
Canteen Manager

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 PFA NEWS
Christmas Raffle!

The Christmas Raffle was once again a very successful event raising a couple of thousand dollars via ticket sales. All
prizes were very generously donated by several companies or families within the school. Please see thank you
flyer attached.

Winning tickets were drawn during the Concert on Monday night.

Congratulations goes to our 5 prize pack winners - Gail D, Sergio A, Anaam L, Denise M and Rhylei T. Thank you
to everyone for their support.

Preps Morning Tea – Wednesday, 5th February 2020 at 9.05am

We hope all our new parents to MPPS have been enjoying the Prep orientation with your children. In your
information pack you would have seen an invitation flyer to come join us for the PREP PARENTS MORNING TEA.
Save the date and come along and enjoy a cup of tea or coffee and meet other Prep parents after the first school
drop off.

Uniform Donations!

If families have any school uniform items they wish to donate, please hand into the office or a member of the PFA
by the end of Term or at the beginning of next year.

First PFA Meeting in 2020!

Our first PFA meeting for 2020 will be held on Wednesday 12th February 2020.

Our PFA meetings are held on the 2nd Wednesday each month during the school term in the Community Room
at school at 9am for around 1hr.
We elc e a d h e ee e e face l ee a d j i he PFA ea I a g ea a ee e
ae ge i l ed i h he ch l a d d e e i eal f our time. Together Everyone Achieves More!!

If you would like more information or to speak with a PFA member please feel free to contact us via
email MillParkPrimaryPFA@gmail.com or speak with one of us within the school.

Thank you message from the PFA!

As the 2019 school year comes to a close, the PFA wants to say Thank you to all the volunteers, parents, staff and
teachers who have helped make a difference.

We are so appreciative to everyone who has donated not only their money but their time by either volunteering
during an event, serving at a stall, coming to a meeting, taking on a role, printing up posters, counting and
processing payments and orders or just supporting a fundraising activity. We truly could not have done it without
all of you.

With your generosity the PFA was able to reach many fundraising goals and contribute funds raised to many
school projects and learning equipment for our wonderful students at MPPS including new books and learning
aids, sporting equipment, laptop leases, artificial turf and rubber matting at two playground areas just to name a
few.

We have a wonderful school community and very hard workers on the PFA and we hope to meet and welcome
more members next year.

The PFA wishes you all a fun-filled Holiday season and best wishes for a happy New Year in 2020.
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