Melrose Park Public School Newsletter

The term has commenced with many exciting initiatives and learning experiences underway. Our application for a sporting schools grant was successful and as a result, Friday AFL sessions will run for 6 weeks. Students are also enjoying gymnastics each Monday. Yesterday, students in K-2 learnt about the safe and responsible ownership of pets and all students K-6 are looking forward to the In Rhythm drumming program on Thursday. Our teachers and staff are dedicated to ensuring that students not only engage in rich teaching and learning programs in class but also have access to memorable events that enhance and enrich the curriculum.

Cease of the Skoolbag App

As of this Friday, Melrose Park Public School will no longer be using Skoolbag App. Instead we will be using the Sentral Parent Portal. Our next Newsletter will be published through Sentral. To ensure you receive notifications, please download the Sentral Parent Portal app. 

Families have previously been issued with information on accessing their student’s information on this app. See the school website for further information on downloading. Access codes previously provided will still work.

If you have an questions or need some help please contact the school office.

Coffee and Chat Initiative

At MPPS we value the connection between school and our parent community. On Thursday 18 May, we will host a coffee and chat session from 2.15-3.00pm in the school hall. Parents are invited to drop in before picking their children up from school, share some afternoon tea and have an informal chat with myself and other executive staff. Mrs Nerida Gallagher our Wellbeing Support Officer will also make a short presentation on her role and how the chaplaincy program benefits and supports students at MPPS.

Tell Them From Me Survey

This term, students from Years 4-6 will be participating in the Tell Them from Me Survey. The survey will provide us with valuable feedback on what our students think about school life, how engaged they are with school and the different ways that teachers interact with them. It also provides insights into student wellbeing, engagement, and effective teaching practices for ongoing school improvement. Information outlining additional details of the survey was sent home last week. Parents may return the opt out form to school by Wednesday 10 May if they do not want their child to take part in the survey.

Statement of Account for Semester 1 is now due

Just a reminder to finalise your account for Semester 1.  You can view your outstanding account via the school website/make a payment tab.  Payment - School Bytes - Melrose Park Public School (nsw.gov.au) If you require financial assistance please speak to Jane Cummins at the school office. All requests are confidential.

New Basketball Hoops

A big thank you to our P&C for funding the installation of the new basketball hoops. They are a popular addition to our playground area.

Parent Volunteers – Working with Children Check

We are always grateful for our parent volunteers who assist in classrooms, excursions and events at school. Parent volunteers are usually exempt from requiring a WWCC clearance number however they are required to complete a Declaration for Child Related Workers form. This only needs to be completed once during your child’s time at MPPS (unless you have moved and change your address). These forms are available from the school office and should be completed prior to volunteering. You will also be required to come to the office and show identification documentation. These are legal requirements for all schools.

Principal Leave

I will be taking Long Service Leave during Weeks 5 and 6. During this time Mrs Cheltzie Hall and Mrs Belinda O’Neill will relieve in my absence. Mrs Hall will be the relieving Principal from Monday 22 May- Friday 26 May and Mrs O’Neill from Monday 29 May – Friday 2 June.

Congratulations to the following students who have received a Principal's Award.

Last Friday we started our first week of winter PSSA. The sports are netball and soccer. Everyone had a good time and tried their best. For some people it was the first time they had played the sport in a competition.

At school everyone had their first lesson of AFL. The two instructors kept the students very busy learning passing and kicking skills.

We also started gymnastics last week. There were activities on the beam, on mats and with hoops. Everyone had fun.

With all this sporting activity going on, it is lucky we have just started the 10 week Premier’s Sporting Challenge. The goal is to get a diamond certificate by doing about 9 hours of fitness a week. Some classes started at the beginning of Term and are already on Week 3. Others will complete the challenge in Term 3.

That is all the sports news.

Emily and Jasper (Lawson House Leaders)

In gymnastics 3R are learning to walk on balance beams, use trampolines, use ribbons and hoops and roll in different ways. The skills are getting harder each week with different activities.

What we love about gymnastics is that we can explore different exercises and it’s good for refreshing our minds. Every kid needs that. We are careful and follow instructions to ensure we don’t get injuries.

In maths we have been investigating regrouping with place value. We know that ten ones is the same as one ten. This is helping when we need to borrow from the tens to subtract the ones.

Written by Amy and Naima

During Term 2, students in Year 4 and Year 6 will participate in the Check-in assessment.

The Check-in assessment is a NSW Department of Education online literacy and numeracy assessment available to support schools to assess and monitor student learning.

The assessment can supplement existing school practices to identify how students are performing in literacy and numeracy and to help teachers tailor their teaching more specifically to student needs. Students with disability may receive the same level of support during the assessment they would normally receive in the classroom.

• The assessment will be scheduled for our Year 4 and 6 students during Week 4 (week beginning 15 May)
• All students complete a reading assessment and a numeracy assessment.

Students will be asked to bring headphones that plug into a computer to enable them to hear audio during the assessment. The type of computer connection needed is a jack or USB.

Class teachers will be supported by Mrs O’Neill, Check-in Assessment Supervisor. 

The NSW Department of Education rejects all forms of racism and is committed to the elimination of racial discrimination. The Department’s Anti-Racism Policy aims to ensure that no student, employee, parent, carer or community member experiences racism within the school environment. Each school has an Anti-Racism Contact Officer (ARCO) who is trained to assist with complaints and countering racism. Our school contact is Mrs Belinda O’Neill. Please read the information below about the ARCO role and procedures for making complaints of racism.

2023 OC Class Applications Application Information outlining placement procedures for Year 5 entry to an Opportunity Class in 2024 has been sent home with all Year 4 students. If you would like to have your child considered for a Year 5 opportunity class in 2024, you need to apply online between Thursday 30 March and Monday 15 May, 2023. You will need to access the online application at: https://education.nsw.gov.au/oc

Please contact the school office should you require any further information.