Newsletter - 15 November

Principal's Highlights

Term 4 is a time for continued learning, reflection and a celebration of growth.  At Mount Nelson Primary, we really appreciate the strong sense of belonging our students, families and staff communicate that they feel.  It’s the chats with families at pick up and drop off, the conversations with our students sharing their learnings and news, and our wonderful staff who work so hard to create calm, connected, learning environments where our students can flourish.

School Satisfaction Survey 2023
Every year, the Department of Education conducts School Satisfaction Surveys to find out what our school does well and where it may improve.  Thank you to our 62 family members who took the time to complete our 2023 School Satisfaction Survey.  This is up from 7 responses last year!  An amazing increase.  Thank you to all our families who participated as it is through feedback that we get better.

Our parent survey data has seen growth in ratings in these areas:

• There is effective educational leadership at this school
• This school looks for ways to improve.
• Family feedback is used to inform decision-making about this school.
• Staff at this school expect my child to do their best
• This school takes family opinions seriously
• Staff at this school ideas for me to support mu child’s lieteracy and numeracy learning at home.

Areas we will continue to aim to focus on moving forward and looking for how we can continue to improve are:

• Staff at this school work with me to support my child’s learning.
• This school is preparing students for their future.
• Staff at this school treat children fairly.
• I can talk to my childs teachers about my concerns
• Families have opportunity to participate in decisions about their child’s education.
• Staff encourage my child to think.

Our staff survey indicated that we had 20 staff who engaged with the survey a 50% increase from last year!  This included both our teachers and teacher aides.

Our survey data is well above the Tasmanian average in these areas!

• This school has a clear and coherent school improvement plan
• Staff at this school treat students fairly
• Students feel safe at this school
• Student behaviour is well managed at this school
• Students like being at this school

Areas we will continue to focus with staff at Mount Nelson Primary are:

• This school is well maintained
• Greater opportunities for staff to be involved in whole school decision making
• More opportunities to be involved in professional development
• Staff encouraging families to be more involved in literacy and numeracy oppotunities

These are great results for our school and I would like to acknowledge our staff and families who encourage and support our students. 

Catherine Grace
Principal

Managing Safeguarding Risks in our School

Our staff play a key role in keeping students safe by proactively monitoring any risks.

The Department for Education, Children and Young People (DECYP) recently released new Safeguarding Risk Management resources for our schools to assist with this.

These resources are designed to help us continuously identify, prevent and reduce risks to students of child abuse and harm, and support our school to be a safe environment where every child and young person can thrive and grow.

During this term we will be developing a Safeguarding Risk Management plan for our school.   The plan sets out the risks that we can identify, and most importantly, how we can reduce them.

As parents and carers, you play an important role helping us to identify safeguarding risks in our school, and I’m sure you may also have ideas on how we can reduce these risks to keep students safe.  

If you or your child/children have any questions, concerns or wish to report any incidents relating to child abuse or harm, I encourage you to reach out to me or a trusted staff member. We welcome your views and any feedback.

The Tell Someone website is also another useful source of information if you are worried that a child may be at risk of harm or is being sexually abused or groomed. 

If you have any concerns, the website gives clear information about what to look for, how to make a report and who to speak to.

For further information on the work being done on safeguarding in our school, please visit DECYP's website.

Catherine Grace & Rachel Viney
Principal and Safeguarding Lead

Marine Discovery Centre Excursions

Different classes from Mount Nelson Primary School visited the amazing Woodbridge School Marine Discovery Centre.  Our students explored the marine environment that is right on our doorstep and made valuable connections to take back to the classroom and beyond! 🌊🦞🦈🐟⭐

Check out some photos from the excursions and even a video of 1-2R's experience!

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Christmas Cards designed by your child!

Don’t miss out on these unique Christmas cards.  Purchase a pack of 10 cards for just $15 via Qkr!
Orders close this Friday, 17 November.

Interschool Swimming Carnival

On 2 November, year 3-6 students participated in the Interschool Swimming Carnival.  Everyone did a great job competing, we used our values of teamwork by encouraging each other and were very adaptable when people were absent and had to fill in. 
Great job to Brianna who got 1^st place in the 25 metre freestyle and to the grade 6 boys relay team for coming 2^nd. Everyone did an amazing job, we came 8^th out of all the schools and will be dropping down a division next year.

A big thank you to all the staff and parents for organising and encouraging us.

Stella W and Eric
House Captains

Hobart Women's Shelter Christmas Donations

Last year, the 2022 School Executives organised a fundraiser for the Hobart Women’s Shelter, and they managed to raise around $800.

You may remember that families were asked to donate gift vouchers for families to use so that they could buy presents for their children for Christmas. This year, we are going to do it again.

To support families at The Hobart Women’s Shelter, we are asking you to buy a gift voucher and bring it into the school office by Thursday, 30 November. This year, people can also donate money over Qkr. Rachel will then go and buy the vouchers and pass them onto the shelter.

We would love for as many people as possible to donate so that children at the shelter can have something wonderful to open on Christmas morning.  Thank you so much for every donation.

Classroom Readers

Your School Association is supporting the School with their literacy focus by purchasing new classroom readers.  Can you help with this goal? Donations can be made on Qkr!

Nature Play at Mount Nelson PS

At Mount Nelson Primary school, a lot of students have been playing with the different nature materials from around our school.  Our school has been encouraging students to use these materials in many ways.  Some students have been making cubbies, fireplaces, even artwork and so much more.  We hope that our students can get creative with these materials from nature.

Maddi
Grade 6 Student

Jack and the Beanstalk - Senior Musical Performance

Fire Education Week

We are so glad for the Tasmania Fire Service (TFS) to visit our school last week!
Firefighters Todd and Drew came to talk to us about multiple fire risks and how a fire would start.  They got most of us to fill in a safety sheet with our family at home.  Thank you to TFS for organising this for the students.

Jeremy, Eric, Spencer & Joe M
5/6D and 5/6AH Students

7 Steps to Helping your Anxious Child Return to School

Psychologist Michael Hawton provides parents and carers with seven simple steps to enable them to support their anxious children to return to school consistently. It may seem overwhelming, balancing supporting your child through anxious thoughts and feelings and wanting to provide them with the best education and social experiences in their development.

Michael Hawton, a psychologist, father and trained teacher with 30 years' experience, walks parents and carers through some simple steps they can implement straight away to set their child on the right track to returning to school consistently.

For a more in-depth look at child anxiety and how to manage it in your family, head to our website and check out our online self-paced course The Anxiety Coach; for all parents wanting to support their child the best they can. https://www.parentshop.com.au/parents/anxiety-coach-parents

Click here to have free digital resources sent to you - https://tinyurl.com/mvbef6vh

Learn more here - https://www.parentshop.com.au/blog/7-steps-for-helping-your-anxious-child-return-to-school

Class Spotlight - 5/6AH

Science Experiments

In our class we have been making our science projects.  We have been learning about independent variables and dependent variables.  Independent variables are what makes an experiment, dependant variables are the data/result. Some examples of what students have been doing for their experiment is:

• How different soft drinks react to mentos?
• How much mould grows on bread if you wipe it on different surfaces?
• Does increasing the weight of a model car change the distance it travels?
• How long does it take for different liquids to evaporate?
• Does changing the surface you bounce a basketball on, affect how heigh it bounces?

We have also been working on displaying our data for our experiments in different ways. Like bar charts, pie chart, histogram and line graphs.

To make a fair test you can only change one variable in your experiment and keep the rest of your experiment the same e.g., if you change two different things you would have to measure both of those individual things.

Here are the results from a student:

Does increasing the weight of a model car change the distance it travels?  It does change significantly.

• No weight: 6m 84 cm.
• Weight: 8m 10cm.

Stella W, Wolfe & Elliot
5/6AH Students

2024 Association Planning Workshop

Thursday, 30 November, 7 - 9pm in the School Staffroom.  At this workshop we’ll map out the events and activities of your School Association in support of our children and our school.  All parents and carers are warmly encouraged to attend.

Resilience In Our Teens™ for Parents

Resilience In Our Teens™ is a child development course that aims to support you and your teen through the ups and downs of life.  It is what we call a ‘parent-led’ approach, meaning that you take on the role of the coach in your teen’s life, and are able to guide them through emotionally distressing episodes.  Designed & developed by psychologist, author and teacher Michael Hawton, it equips you with a practical and easy set of tools, and a solid understanding of the theory behind these to enable you to build resilience in your child. 

Hosted by psychologist Ruby Otero. 

Live webinar series | Feb 8, 15 & 22 | 6.30 - 8.45pm

Register here - https://www.parentshop.com.au/parents/resilence-in-our-teens-parents 

End of Year Celebration and Raffle

Join us to celebrate the school year!

We’re also holding a raffle, open now via Qkr! or tickets can also be purchased at the Celebration.  Prizes include Pennicott Cruise, treats, chocolates and some great vouchers.
If you can help out with the BBQ or playing games for this event, please let us know on mnpsassociation@gmail.com

Chess Taster Session

James from Black Square Chess are holding a 'taster session' for students on Friday, 17 November in the 5/6 AH room after lunch eating (1 pm). 

Are you our next Canteen Coordinator? Do you know someone who might be interested?

Our School Canteen is a popular and well-supported activity amongst our school community.  If the Canteen is to continue operating in 2024 we must find a new coordinator, or perhaps two people sharing the role.

To ensure the continuation of this well-loved service, please consider whether you or someone you know might be interested in the role.  Contact the School Association on mnspassociation@gmail.com to find out more.

From the School Association

November is a busy month at the School, and the same is true for your School Association.  Here’s an overview of our activities and the ways you can get involved.

- Christmas Cards designed by your child! Orders close this Friday, 17 November.  Just $15 for a pack of 10 cards, available on Qkr!

- School Association November Meeting. Tuesday, 21 November, 2 - 3 pm in the Staffroom.  Join with other parents and community members to share in the activity of the Association, hear updates from our amazing activity coordinators, and learn how the Association is supporting our children and our school.

- 2024 Association Planning Workshop. Thursday, 30 November, 7 - 9 pm in the Staffroom. This is an opportunity to set out our ideas, events, activities and contributions to the School for the year ahead.  All parents and carers are warmly encouraged to attend.

- End of Year Celebration and Raffle! Wednesday, 13 December, 3 - 5 pm at the School.  Join together with students, teachers, parents and carers to celebrate the school year.  We’ll have a BBQ, drinks, icecream and games.  There’s also a raffle with some amazing prizes.  Tickets now on Qkr! or purchase on the day.

- Classroom Reader fundraising. Your Association is raising money for new Classroom Readers in support of the School focus on literacy.  Donations can be made via Qkr!

- 2024 Canteen Coordinator.  Our current coordinator is stepping down at the end of the year.  If the School Canteen is to continue operating in 2024 we need a new coordinator.  There’s a post in this week’s newsletter with details of the role, time commitment, training and honorarium.  Please contact the Association if you have any suggestions, questions or ideas for this role at mnpsassociation@gmail.com

- Volunteers needed to get the oval ready for works! We are looking for volunteers to help Pete Walker attach 'wallaby proof' fencing along the bottom of the new fence around the oval on Sunday, 26 November from 9.00am.  We need to do this step before works can begin on the oval in December.  If you can help please let Mary know on mnpsassociation@gmail.com

Canteen News!
Spring Rolls and Anzac Biscuits (plus more!)
Orders close Thursday, 9.25 am on Qkr!

Community News

Term 4 Calendar 2023