A Message from the Principal

Hi all,

It has been a wonderfully smooth start to the 2021 school year. Our classes have been actively involved in the Effective and Engaging Classrooms program over the first 2 weeks. This program establishes classroom settings which are safe and productive learning environments where children are well connected with each other and their teacher.

I have been extremely impressed with how well our new Prep students have transitioned into school. Given the disrupted kindergarten year and limited transition program, this is something to be really proud of. I would like to acknowledge the incredible work of our Prep teachers, our Prep families and most importantly the children themselves in achieving such success. Well done everybody!!

Assembly

Last Friday we held our first assembly in the new Gym with all classes from Grade 1-6 and this week our Prep students join us. Last week we trialled doing a live assembly feed with success and will continue to do this as a solution to parents not being able to attend. By ‘Following’ or ‘Liking’ the school Facebook page you will be sent a notification of the assembly feed on the day. I look forward to seeing parents tuning in.

Student Free Day - Monday 1st March

Montrose Primary School is a member of the Lilydale Network of schools, consisting of 18 primary schools, 4 secondary schools and 1 special needs school in our area. As part of our involvement with the network, our staff will be undertaking a professional learning day with Misty Adoniou an expert in the teaching of Writing. On this day, Monday 1st March, students do not attend school. Our network of schools has committed to an exciting 4year project with Misty to enhance student outcomes in writing across the entire network. Their Care will be offering a Student Free Day program for families requiring this service on the day.

First Aid

Yesterday a group of 13 staff undertook their Level 2 First Aid practical training with Premium Health, this followed an online learning component and exam. In addition to this all teachers undertake Asthma, Anaphylaxis and Diabetes education. I would like to thank Mandy Johnson our First Aid Coordinator for her wonderful work coordinating this area.

School Uniform

It is important that parents revisit the School Uniform policy on our school website here: 
MPS Uniform Policy

Upon return to school there are concerns around the following elements of the uniform, particularly with our upper primary students:

• Pants: Plain black pants or leggings – no stripes, patterns, cut outs, prints or obvious logos.
• Length of clothing: Any shorts/skirts/dresses need to be at least down to mid-thigh so that all school activities can be undertaken in the appropriate manner.
• Socks / tights: Short socks in either white, blue or black / Full length black tights.

I will be visiting upper primary classes this week to remind students of expectations.

Staffing

At the very close of last year and early this year we have had some changes to staffing which I would like to inform you of.

Miss Erin Perry has taken up a 1year position at Heatherwood School which is a secondary school for students with a mild intellectual disability. Erin has significant experience working with Interchange and supporting students with disabilities.

Miss Bianca Mason has taken up a 1year position at Selby Primary School in a Grade 5/6 class setting.

Miss Thomay Nicolau has taken up a part time position at Lauriston Girls school in a secondary teaching capacity and will continue her involvement with Essendon F.C.

Mr Simon Orenshaw is very excited to continue his role as PE Teacher at Montrose P.S.

Mr Tim Mulhall has been successful in securing a secondment to a role within the regional office of the Department of Education. In this role Tim will be working across a number of schools in the Outer East as a Literacy expert. While the secondment is for an initial 6-week period, it has a very real potential to become a 2-year role should Tim be the successful candidate. Montrose Primary School has previously been involved as an exemplar school in this Literacy project that Tim will now be actively leading. Our school’s expertise in Reader’s Workshop and literacy made Tim, as a leader of this work, a strong candidate for the role. I wish Tim every success in this new role which presents a wonderful career opportunity.

Miss Catherine Lushey will be replacing Tim Mulhall as the classroom teacher of Grade 2M. Catherine has experience teaching in other primary schools and has also worked as a replacement teacher at Montrose last year. We are very excited to welcome Catherine to our teaching team.

I am very pleased to welcome Miss Emma Austin to the role of Drama/Art teacher at Montrose. Emma will take all Drama lessons over 3 days and some Art classes over 1 day. Emma has extensive experience in acting, stage management and performing arts and will be a wonderful partner to Andrea Vakulcyzk as they prepare for our school production in Term 4 this year.

Montrose Celebrations

Over the holiday period we celebrated two very special occasions with staff and I would like to share with you these celebrations.

Miss Kate Spillane married her partner Tim, prior to Christmas, at a local winery in the Yarra Valley, in what was a very special day. Kate was particularly fortunate with the timing of her big day! We welcome Mrs Rolfe back to Montrose P.S, Kate will continue to have her current Prep class call her Miss Spillane for simplicity.

Mrs Jennifer Tesselaar and husband Bart were thrilled to welcome their beautiful baby boy Patrick Dennis Tesselaar on 26/12/20, born at 41weeks+1day. All went really well with the birth, and both Mum and baby are well. Jenn is now enjoying motherhood and has shared this photo of Patrick at 1month of age.

Family & student information updates

If families have had any changes to phone numbers, address or other relevant details over the holidays please be sure to update these on Sentral or make contact with the office. If there are any court orders etc. that are new or updated please pass these onto the office ASAP. Similarly if there are any important medical updates please be sure to make contact with the office.

A reminder that our newsletters will be sent out fortnightly. Other ongoing channels of communication continue through our school Facebook page and our Sentral email system.

Kind regards

Kylie