Mansfield Primary School Newsletter

Dear Families,

One week of Term 4 to go!  This time of year always flies past but even more so in 2022.  There are a lot of pieces of the puzzle that are coming together.  I can’t wait for a break over Christmas and looking forward to starting a really positive 2023.

The next week and bit has lots of exciting things on.  Kinder and Grade 6 transition on Tuesday, Grade 6 Graduation on Wednesday evening, Mansfield PS Transition Morning on Thursday, a final assembly on Friday and Monday Funday on the 19th December.

Classes and Staffing 2023

Next year we will have 23 classes across the school.  It will not be a surprise to families that staffing is really challenging at the moment.  We are really close to finalising where teachers will be for next year.  These will be confirmed and communicated next week.

We have been working throughout this term, placing each student in the best room for them.  There are many factors that go into this decision making which is why it is such a long process.  Students will spend a morning with their teachers in their 2023 classrooms on our MPS Transition Morning on Thursday 15th December.

Leaving Staff

A huge thank you to Olivia Cowie, Jacinta Elliott, Kathy Cheng, Thi Thi Hong and Colette Clarke who will be finishing up with us at the end of this year. Their contribution to Mansfield Primary School is very much valued and appreciated, whether over 1 year or many years. Lesley Dunlop is taking leave for a year and Terry Allen is taking family leave. I look forward to seeing them both back here soon.

Amanda Olver is leaving us at the end of the year too. Amanda has worked for many years in the office and as our Business Manager.  I wish her all the best as well.

I hope that they all have a great break over the summer holidays and wish them all the best for 2023 and beyond.

Last Week of School, Plus Monday.

The last week of school is always an exciting one, with students finding out their teacher, classmates and classroom for 2023, class parties, final assembly, Grade 6s farewell and 2023 school captains announced.  Please see the calendar of events for the last week.

School finishes for students on Monday December 19th this year.  Our Grade 6 Wellbeing Team has arranged a great range of buddy activities for Monday Funday which will be a great way to finish off the year.

Like always, please get in touch with us with any questions or concerns.  Email your classroom teacher, call the front office or email me tom.macmunn@education.vic.gov.au.

Have a lovely weekend.

Take Care,

Tom

December 14th - Grade 6 Graduation 

December 19th - Last Day of School - 3.30pm Finish

December 20th - Curriculum Day 

January 30th - Curriculum Day

January 31st - Grade 1 - 6 Students Commence

February 1st - Prep Students Commence

February  8th, 15th, 22nd & March 1st - Prep Free Days (No Prep students required at school)

RAPID ANTIGEN TESTS 

If your family would like some extra rapid antigen tests to get through the holiday period please pop into the front office to collect.

Design a Brick

It is not too late to order a PAVER. Just in case you missed out at our 150 year celebration, we are laying a path of personalised pavers that include the names of- and/or are designed by students at MPS. 

You can order a paver up until Wednesday 14th December. 

Mt Buller Annex EOI

Expression of Interest for enrolment at MPS Mt Buller Campus 2023 - Please see our school website for further information.

MEDICATION

All medication required during the day at school must be handed to the front office. 

REMINDER

A reminder to families that the school day finishes at 3.30pm. Please ensure your child/children are collected from school in a timely manner. If you are running late please notify the front office. 

AFTER SCHOOL ARRANGEMENTS 

We have a busy Term 4! Please ensure your child is aware of what is happening after school, where they are going, who is picking them up and they know plan B if a after school activity is cancelled. 

BUS TRAVEL 

Any changes to your afternoon bus travel arrangements are to be made by 2.30pm of the day of travel. This can be made via the Skoolbag App under E-Forms, email or by phone. 

If your child has started a new after school activity or football/netball/cricket training please update their bus travel arrangements. 

SCHOOL UNIFORM

Uniform is to be ordered through Spartan School Supplies.      www.spartanschoolworld.com.au

We have a full range of uniform on display at the front office for you to view before making your purchases online. 

LOST PROPERTY

Please note we cannot return items that have no name. Please ensure uniform & drink bottles are clearly labelled with your child's name. 

SPARE CLOTHES

If your child has come home in spare clothes from school we ask that you please wash & return these items. Thank you. 

SKOOLBAG

A reminder to families (if you have not already updated)  to update their child/s year level on Skoolbag. This is done by opening Skoolbag, selecting the MPS logo then selecting groups, add/remove groups & then selecting your child/s grade including whole school. 

On Tuesday the 15th of November all year 6s from MPS set off on an adventure. 4 days. MPS to the summit of Mt Buller. 1 day riding, 3 days hiking. 

After the bell went we began getting into our groups then lining up to ride off. We waved and high-five all the parents and school kids from prep to year 5.  

With the claps and cheers ringing in our ears we rode off. We were riding on bitumen for quite a while until we all stopped to all have a drink and investigated the view of where we were heading... We set off again and started riding down to the massive quagmire of puddles along Pollards Lane. Oozy doesn’t begin to describe that track. Jake said, “ I was going in to look at Judd stuck in the muck. I went to step and my shoe disappeared into the mud. I went to pull it out and my foot came out but no shoe! I had to move and dig in the mud and pull the laces to get it out”. 

After riding for hours, we arrived at the lunch spot – the Merrijig War Memorial. We had sausages in bread with fruit and soup. It was nice to have something warm on a cold day. Then we began riding again. We rode 2km before arriving at our destination – Merrijig Primary School.  

We all went to the toilet as soon as we got there, then we grabbed our tents. After setting up we had free time before dinner. For dinner we had tasty spaghetti bolognaise and garlic bread before going into the hall and reflecting in our journal. “The spaghetti was tender and perfectly cooked. It fell apart in my mouth”, said Pich. 

Once again, we caught a glimpse of our destination through the clouds, this time covered in snow. 

The next day we had to get out of the camp site before 8:30. We brushed the ice off our tents, packed lunches, ate breakfast and packed tents and bags. The sun was shining as we started walking off. That day we walked for 8.5km and walked through knee deep water along Lovicks Lane! Then we arrived at Darling Huts in icy, windblown rain (and some hail) where we met Timbertop students and played some games. It was good to learn some new games and meet new people. We then had apricot chicken. It was a good dinner after a long rainy day of hiking. We then had shoutouts and dessert.  

Day 3 was long! We just kept walking and walking and walking until we made it to Forest Creek to set up our tents in the towering forest and that was the night. The highlight of that day was the hotdogs that we had for lunch!  

DAY 4 was hardest of them all, it was WEST RIDGE! We started in the tall forest, climbing into the snowgums until we got quite high and started rock climbing! The ants were horrible, but we finally made it to the top where we met Mrs. Salmon and Toby with icy poles. As everyone got to the top, we did the famous photo and started walking to the bus! 

Zara said, “It didn’t feel real. I could see where we started and it seemed really far away. It felt like all my hard work led to an achievement”. 

“I would like to thank all the people who helped us with this journey”, said Max.