Principal’s News – Term 1, 2021
Hello Everyone,
Welcome to the new Gorge News format. The link will be distributed twice a term.
Updates regarding upcoming events and important information will continue to be made via uEducateUS.
I welcomed everyone back to the new school year in an earlier uEducateUs announcement.
We really have had an impressive start to the year. The grades are settled and focussing on their learning. I feel very confident that we will have another exciting and productive ‘learning’ year at Morang South. Our students are looking fantastic in their uniforms! It certainly gives them a sense of belonging to our great school. Please remember that ‘hoodies’ are not part of our school uniform, so please ensure that your child has an appropriate school uniform at all times.
Our preps have made a great start to their education journey at MSPS! They have certainly settled well into the routine of school, already attending and enjoying Specialist Programs.
A huge thank you to you all, for how you continue to support your children in attending school, including making sure that they have sufficient “brain” food and water.
Summer holidays seem like a distant memory now that we are almost two weeks into Autumn. I hope our new families are enjoying being part of the Morang South Learning Community and have settled in well.
A reminder that we have welcomed four new teaching staff this year. They are as follows:
Georgia Richards – Year 5/6 HG 15
Rebecca Scuderi – Year 3/4 HG 12
Anneliese McDonald – Year 1/2 HG 27
Natasha Johnson – Prep HG 02 (Natasha has previously been working as one of our Education Support staff, however she has now qualified as a Primary School Teacher)
We have also welcomed two new ES (Aide) trainees and a part time Aide. They are as follows:
Tammy Mietus will mostly working in PREPIC.
Isaac Fakhri commenced almost a fortnight ago and he will be working with a variety of students across the school.
Fonda Pardallis completed his placement and some part time work with us in Term 4 last year. He will be working with a variety of students across the school.
The feedback I am receiving is that all new staff are making great relationships with the students and positive impressions with you. Thank you for being so welcoming and supportive of them.
Our student-led three way conferences are on March 30th so you will have an opportunity to get to know the teachers a little better then. The booking for the conferences will be release next week (March 16th).
We are hoping to have our postponed ‘Family Fun’ Night early in Term 2.
Many of you will know that the children’s teachers and their rooms were well prepared for the commencement of the students. You will have seen the many cars in the car park during the final week of holidays as the teaching staff worked hard to make these preparations. I’d like to congratulate the staff for their professionalism and thank them for the personal time they have used to ensure all was ready for our students – new and returning!
Thank you to our office staff for all their support in managing the administration involved in the start of the school year. Dianne Williamson is our school business manager and Jenny Tollit remains our Office Manager. Deb Powell will continue to work in reception and will also be our First Aide Officer. We are always looking to offer staff opportunities for multi-skilling and to improve our efficiency and processes, so if you have some feedback or suggestions for us, please contact us.
We are continuing the habit of not bringing disposable packaging. If children do bring disposable packaging in their lunches they will be leaving the packaging in their lunch boxes and bringing it home. There are a variety of containers on the market now which pack easily into lunch boxes to enable lunches to be package free. I’d like to congratulate the many families who support us in this pursuit of a more environmentally friendly school. Thank you.
Classroom teachers will be continuing to communicate with parents directly via uEducateUs this year so staff email addresses will not be distributed..
Essential Resources and Activities cost information went in home in Term 4 of 2020. Thank you to those families who have already paid their essential resources amounts. These are crucial funds which enable us to fully resource all of our wonderful programs.
The State Government Camps, Sports and Excursions Fund helps ensure that no student misses out on the opportunity to join their classmates for important, educational and fun activities. You qualify if you have a Health Care card. Apply today! Please speak to the office if you require further details.
I informed the School Council at the last meeting that I will be taking Long Service Leave for two days each week, mainly Thursdays and Fridays for Semester 1. During my absence on those days, Jane Brayshaw will be Acting Principal. Jane is an asset to our school and certainly has the required skills and approach to fulfil this position. Jane and I are confident that we can continue to lead the school as a team.
Education Matters, Teachers Make a Difference & Every Day Counts!
Keep up that lifelong learning!
Julie Jones
Principal
