Newsletter - 28 March

Principal's Highlights

Our staff are committed to continuous improvement, and in 2025 we are focusing on staff professional development in literacy and inquiry to ensure that all learners are engaged, challenged and learning successfully.

During this week’s School Association meeting, we shared our goals for the 2025 School Improvement Plan.

These goals will be familiar to our community, as they are shaped by student voices and community collaboration. We take pride in our ongoing commitment to educational excellence for every learner at Mount Nelson Primary School and making a meaningful contribution to Tasmania’s broader education system.

Staff Professional Development News

As researchers, collaborators and thinkers we have participated in professional learning with Educational Inquiry Consultant, David Gilkes. Our staff are developing a shared understanding of Inquiry focused teaching practices across all of our classrooms. Our teachers are all using a wonderful book by Kath Murdoch called “The Power of Inquiry” as the basis for their planning and teaching.

Here is a link to Kath’s blog about Inquiry teaching: http://www.kathmurdoch.com.au/blog/

Empowering our Learners

Thinking and learning are often made visible in different ways. Students may share their thoughts in discussions - either in small groups or as a whole class. They might jot down ideas and questions on sticky notes, create drawings or models to represent their thinking, or use digital tools to express their understanding.

As Kath Murdoch explains in The Power of Inquiry, some traditional teaching practices may not support an Inquiry-based approach. When we value purposeful learning, where students engage with real-world contexts and authentic challenges, we recognise that certain activities, like isolated worksheet exercises, may not be the most effective. Instead, Inquiry teachers focus on meaningful, engaging learning experiences that encourage curiosity and deeper understanding.

We look forward to sharing more about our Inquiry-based learning journey through our Newsletter and Facebook page.

Catherine Grace
Principal

Term 1 Calendar

Student Voice

We would like to thank all the parents/carers and students who contributed to our Easter raffle donations. There has been an exciting amount of donations this year. All the chocolate will be going towards our easter raffle prizes which will be drawn on the 9^th of April. We are all looking forward to the raffle. More tickets can be purchased from front office or on Qkr!

Group A had the assembly on Tuesday 25. We’d like to thank all the teachers for their efforts in helping to create the performances for the assembly and to the students for sharing their learning.

3-4M have been learning about their sizzling starts and how to make their narratives exciting to read. They have been practicing their onomatopoeia, so their narrative is bold and appealing for the reader. 3-4M have been interested as well as excited about their learning.

Some of the grade 3s to 6s have been invited to go to Interschool Athletics. This event will be on Monday 1 April. Congratulations to everybody who got in, good luck!

Class Spotlight - Prep/1

Staff Spotlight - Tess Oddie

What is your role at Mount Nelson Primary

Grade 2/3 Yellow Teacher on Fridays.

Can you tell us a little bit about your background and experience before coming here?

Before teaching I worked in communications and marketing, health promotion and nutrition consulting.

What do you like to do in your spare time?

At the moment I don’t have much spare time! But if I do get a window, I love to make pottery in my studio.

Do you have any pets?

Yes – Scout, our 8-year-old kelpie. She is super snuggly, and ball obsessed.

Where is your favourite place to travel to?

I love travelling and love to go anywhere new! Morocco and Portugal were both places I didn’t want to leave, and I loved exploring Eastern Europe and Japan. The east coast of Tasmania is also a favourite that we visit frequently now that I have little ones.

What’s a fun fact about you that most people don’t know?

I don’t like heights and yet I went skydiving in Rotorua, New Zealand. 

If you weren’t in this role, what other career would you pursue?

I’ve always thought being a perfumer would be interesting, and in another life, I think I would have enjoyed being a recipe book editor.

Thank You, School Association!

A huge thank you to the School Association who have funded the purchase of these amazing wet weather overalls for the Early Childhood classes. The rain won’t stop us! 

Lifting Literacy

At MNPS we are well on the way to planning and providing a Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) Framework to support our students with learning to read together with planning and teaching structured literacy with a focus on explicit teaching and learning.

Explicit instruction is key to a structured approach to literacy

Explicit teaching is clearly explaining and effectively demonstrating what students need to learn. When teaching students to read, it involves:

• Breaking down the learning into smaller learning outcomes.
• Modelling each step, for students to see what's expected of them.
• Providing support and guidance with corrective feedback until students can independently demonstrate the learning outcome.

Explicit instruction also involves:

• Having high expectations for students.
• Having a daily review component to consolidate and practice previous learning.
• Ensuring the start of every lesson has very clear learning intentions.

These photos show some of the ways our teachers are providing structured explicit and differentiated Literacy lessons.

Shaping Minds

We are always looking for ways to enhance our pupils’ learning experiences. That’s why we’re excited to be chosen by DECYP to participate in a Shaping Minds trial—a structured and engaging way to build strong mathematical understanding.

Shaping Minds is designed to help children develop confidence, fluency, and problem-solving skills in maths. This approach emphasises consistent practice, deeper understanding, and a step-by-step progression through key mathematical concepts.

Daily Reviews
One of the key elements of Shaping Minds is the Daily Review. This is a short but powerful session at the start of each lesson, where children revisit previously learned concepts. By regularly reviewing topics, pupils strengthen their memory, build connections between ideas, and develop a sense of mastery over time.

Daily Reviews help to:
✅ Improve recall – Pupils revisit essential skills, making it easier to apply them in new contexts.
✅ Boost confidence – Regular success in reviewing past learning builds a positive attitude towards maths.
✅ Identify gaps – Teachers can quickly spot areas where extra support is needed.

We look forward to seeing the benefits of this approach and working together to support our pupils' mathematical growth.

Over the course of 2025, all teachers will be supported to trial this approach, with some teachers starting in term 1 and others later in the year.

Reading at MNPS

Front Car Park Reminder

Students Safety

Families are reminded to use the crossing at the top of the front car park when crossing before and after school.
This is the safest option for children and our families. 

Reminders

• If your child is in classrooms towards the bottom of the school (2-3 Yellow, 2-3 Green, 5-6 Green and Yellow) please be aware you can park in the bottom carpark for easier access points.
• We encourage parents/carers not to park on the right-hand side of Tangara Rd (indicated on 
  the diagram)
• If you are the first car in the front car park for pick up, please drive right through the carpark and 
  begin lining up from the top (indicated as spot number 1 on the diagram) to avoid congestion. 
• Please do not leave your vehicle while in the “park and sit” lane.  If a car in front of you exits 
  the carpark or moves forward, please shuffle forward so other cars behind can fit in. 
• If the “park and sit” lane is full, please use the right-hand lane to do a block until a spot becomes available. 

Green markers are “park and sit” spots in the left lane.  Please wait in your car for your child/children to meet you there. 
Yellow lane is a no stopping lane from 2.50 pm - 3.10 pm to help cars flow easier. 
We have a staff member on duty at these times in high vis vests - please follow their instructions.

If you have any concerns/issues, please contact the office for further information.

Bag-a-Book - Next week!

Qkr! is now open to purchase a bag of books for $10 or bring money on the day 

Caring For Our Grounds

We love seeing our school community enjoying the grounds after hours with family supervision. To help keep our beautiful spaces, including our much-anticipated school oval, in great condition, we kindly ask for your support.

Recently, we have noticed some damage to the slopes and oval from bike use. Our students do a fantastic job of walking their bikes once on school grounds, and we encourage the same care after hours. To support our revegetation efforts and maintain these spaces for everyone to enjoy, we respectfully ask that bikes not be ridden around the school grounds outside of school hours.

We are lucky to live in an environment with plenty of tracks and trails nearby that are great for bike riding. We encourage families to explore these fantastic options for outdoor adventure!

Thank you for helping us take care of our school environment!

Smartwatches and Phones: Off and away all day!

Families are reminded that all Department for Education, Children and Young People (DECYP) students are expected to have mobile devices “Off and away all day.”

This means that mobile phones should be turned off between 9 am and 3 pm and kept in student bags. Smartwatches should be either turned off or put on aeroplane mode for the whole day.

These measures have been in place in all DECYP schools since 2019 and aim to reduce distraction and potential bullying and improve student wellbeing and attention. The decision followed significant consultation with educators, students, and their families, and brought Tasmania in line with other states which have moved to impose restrictions on mobile phones.

If your child has a mobile device please talk to them about these expectations, and refrain from sending them messages during the school day. If you need to contact your child during school hours, we ask that you do this through the school office, who can deliver messages to children when needed.

Oliver Meets Rum'un!

Oliver had an unforgettable moment meeting the Devils team and their new mascot, Rum’un the Devil! 🏆💚

Rum’un was feeling a little mischievous and decided to snack on Oliver’s Auskick football! But don’t worry - after a bit of time, Rum’un passed it out his rump (phew! 😆), and Oliver got his footy back just in time for next Sunday’s Auskick!

What a fun experience! Thanks to the Devils and Sandy Bay Lions Junior Football Club for the awesome meet and greet! 

Every School Day Matters!

Regular attendance at school is a key factor in predicting student academic achievement.  Research indicates positive and statistically significant relationships between student attendance and academic achievement for both primary and middle school students.

So, what can you do to help your child?

• Ensure your child attends every day unless they are sick
• Only pick your child up early for appointments which cannot be scheduled outside of school time i.e. dentist, specialists
• Make sure your child arrives on time
• Encourage your child to be a good attendee
• Remember that every minute at school counts!

School Levies

Levies for 2025 have been issued and are now due.

We have identified some discrepancies with Qkr! payments not being accurately reflected on statements. This issue has now been resolved.

Should you encounter any further concerns, please don’t hesitate to reach out to Sandy Fenton, our School Business Manager.

Levies can be paid:

• At the school (by EFTPOS or cash)
• At Service Tasmania (by EFTPOS or cash)
• Through BPAY (using the Biller Code and Reference on your invoice)
• Using Centrepay, a service provided by Centrelink.

School Uniform Review & Reminder

We are currently reviewing our school uniform in collaboration with the School Association. Lately, we have noticed a number of students wearing non-school coloured tops. This is not only a safety concern during excursions, where easy identification is important, but also impacts our sense of belonging and school pride.

Wearing our school uniform helps foster a strong community spirit, where every student feels connected and part of something special. We respectfully ask for your support in ensuring that all students wear the correct school colours.

Otherwise, we are incredibly proud of our uniform and grateful to our families for their continued support - thank you!

Hallway Displays

Walking through our school hallway is such a joy! From Harmony Week celebrations and Prep-1 and Kinder team introductions to stunning warm and cool colour artworks, our class displays showcase the amazing learning happening in our classrooms.

These displays invite conversations, celebrate achievements, and strengthen our sense of community.
Drop by and take a look! 💚💛

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Celebration Assembly - Group A

Celebration Assembly - Group B

Our next Celebration Assembly will be held next Tuesday, 1 April 2025, 2 pm in the School Hall for Group B. 

Easter Raffle!

A huge thank you to our wonderful families for all the egg donations! 

We’re so excited to turn them into some amazing prizes for our Easter Raffle - there will be over 30 prizes up for grabs!

Raffle tickets are still available! If you need more physical tickets, please contact the school office. Alternatively, you can purchase unlimited tickets via Qkr!

Tickets will need to be returned by Monday, 7 April, and the raffle will be drawn on Wednesday, 9 April.

Thank you for your support 

From the School Association

Mother’s Day and Special Person’s Stall
Back by popular demand, this stall will be held in 2nd week of Term 2 (Wednesday, 7 May). Children can purchase a gift at the stall during school time for their special person. The Association relies on the creativity and generosity of donations from school families to make it a memorable experience for your children. If you can donate or make something for this stall there will be a box at the office. Popular items donated previous years include plants, books, jewellery and cosmetics. But the choice is yours!

City to Casino - Sunday 18 May
Join the Mount Nelson Primary School team in the 2025 City to Casino fun run.

Click on the link to join the team: https://raceroster.com/registration/a6bec7a9-8dba-49eb-8bb3-35a43a606aad/entry?team=792314 or search “Mount Nelson Primary” in teams list.
Wear your uniform and run/walk at your own pace & we could win a prize for our school!

Upcoming Excursions

Recipe of the Week!

Tuna Pasta Bake

This is a School Lunch Project Menu item, best served “with Fruit”. Serves: 10

Ingredients

• Olive oil, as needed
• Garlic, peeled and crushed or finely diced, 10 grams (2 cloves)
• Onion, diced, 140 grams
• Mixed vegetables*, cut into small cubes, 400 grams
• Canned tuna in spring water, drained, 1 x 425-gram tin
• Margarine 100 grams
• White flour, 100 grams
• Milk, 1 litre
• Salt reduced vegetable stock powder, 10 grams
• Dijon mustard, 25 grams
• Cheddar cheese, grated, 100 grams
• Parsley, finely diced, 1 tablespoon
• Salt and pepper, to taste
• Pasta (dry) 500 grams
• Breadcrumbs, 60 grams
• Grated cheddar cheese 100 grams

Method

1. Preheat oven to 180oC.
2. Put the large saucepan or stock pot over medium heat and add enough oil to lightly coat the bottom of the pan. Add the garlic and onion to the pan. Cook, stirring until the onion starts to look transparent.
3. Add the margarine to the pan. When the margarine has melted add the flour and cook, stirring for 1 to 2 minutes or until the mixture bubbles and starts to come away from the side of the pan. Remove the pan from the heat.
4. Slowly pour in the milk, stock powder and Dijon mustard whisking constantly, until the mixture is smooth.
5. Place the saucepan over medium heat and bring to the boil. Reduce heat and stir constantly with a wooden spoon for five minutes or until sauce thickens and coats the back of the spoon.
6. Remove from heat and stir through mixed vegetables, drained tuna, grated cheese and parsley. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
7. Cook the pasta as per the instructions on the packet.
8. Drain pasta and add to the creamy sauce mixture and stir until well combined.
9. Spoon the pasta mixture into the large baking tray. Evenly sprinkle the top with breadcrumbs and then grated cheese.
10. Place the baking tray in the oven and bake for 20 minutes or until the topping is a golden brown and the cheese has melted.

*We encourage you to use what is in season and available to you. Broccoli, cauliflower, zucchini, capsicum, carrot and frozen peas and corn all work well. ^Choose a monounsaturated or polyunsaturated margarine spread.

Community Noticeboard (School Holiday Programs + More!)

Sign up and join the Hobart Tigers for the 2025 season.

From Auskick to U/8-U/9 boys and U10-U11 Girls, the Hobart Football Club is a great place for you to learn new skills, meet new friends and be apart a welcoming environment.

Training:
Training for U/8 - U/9 Boys and U/10 - U/11 is at TCA at the Domain from 4 pm - 5 pm on Tuesdays.

Auskick is on 4 pm - 5pm at TCA at the Domain.

For any questions, please visit us on Facebook or email juniors@hobartfc.com.au

See you at the Den!