23rd February 2024

Principal’s Report

As we head into Week 4 of the new school year, I am pleased to report the start has been exceptionally positive. There has been a significant focus on having all students ready for class each lesson and well organised. All staff have very clear expectations that the students are in class on time with their equipment and are ready for learning and actively participating in their learning.

It has been very pleasing to see students arriving each day with a smile on their face and ready to learn. It was great to hear all the wonderful things that our families did over the summer holidays. It seems that swimming, going to the movies to watch ‘Wonka’ and camping were very popular, and it is great that so many of our families were able to enjoy the outdoors. The weather has been great this summer.

Thanks to parents for presenting your students beautifully in full school uniform and for making sure that your child has a school hat. Our students are a big team at Montello, and it is great to see everyone dressed as a team too. I would like to remind families that hats must been worn outside this term and are available at the office for $5.00

A big welcome to our new Kindergarten students and families, we hope you enjoy your time with us here at Montello. Our Launching into Learning program has begun, so please make sure that you let families know in the area that children 0-4 and their families are very welcome to attend.

I would also like to welcome a number of new staff to Montello Primary School. Mrs Catherine Gbenga has joined us from Stella Maris Primary School and is teaching on our Grade 3/4 Kangaroos, Miss Caitlyn Potts is from Romaine Park Primary after spending some time interstate and has joined our 3/4 Potoroos.  Lisa Hutchins is our School Nurse and Anne Thompson is our  EAL Teacher. I hope you all have enjoyed your first few weeks at Montello. We love having you all part of our team.

Our focus on Literacy and Numeracy improvement will continue this year and it is very pleasing to see the progress that our students are making already. Our teaching staff has a culture of learning which is inclusive and caters for a diverse range of students. Our staff create safe and inclusive environments, and this is consistent school wide. Students are engaged and are excited to learn.

A reminder that the Athletics Carnival is on Tuesday the 27^th February beginning at 9:15am - another great opportunity for our students to  be active and support their House on the day. We do encourage children to wear their House colour t-Shirt on the day. If your child does not have one of these coloured tops, then they can be purchased from the office. A reminder that as a spectator, you are to please remain in the designated area on the bank and not join your child on the oval. Similarly, your child must remain on the oval and not join you on the bank.

Education is a true partnership between students, parents and carers, the wider community and of course staff here at Montello. The most important thing our parents can do to help improve the outcomes of our students is to bring them to school each and every day. We really need to make sure our attendance rate is the best that it can be. If children are sick or injured then that is understandable but if children are fit for school, they should be attending school. Our staff are strong believers in the African Proverb that ‘It takes a village to raise a child’.

Please read the rest of this newsletter carefully because there are many important topics included. We will continue to communicate with you via SeeSaw or phone, text message, Facebook and of course in person. Please let us know if there is anything we can do to help make your job as a parent or carer easier.

Here is to a brilliant year of learning at Montello Primary in 2024.

Always Choose Kind

Key Dates for 2024

February

Tuesday 27^th
P-6 Athletics Carnival

Thursday 29^th
Back up Day - Athletics Carnival

March

Wednesday 6th
3/4 NWPSSA

Thursday 7th
 5/6 NWPSSA

Monday 11^th
Public Holiday 8hr Day

Thursday 14th
School Photo Day

Friday 29th
Good Friday

April

Monday 1^st
Easter Monday

Tuesday 2^nd
Easter Tuesday

Friday 12^th  
Last Day Term 1

Monday 29^th  
First Day Term 2

School Photo Day

A New School Messaging System Is Coming Soon!

Our School will be switching over to a new messaging platform for communicating with you.   This will replace our current system MGM.

The new platform, called EdSmart is an Australian platform which is designed to improve communication in school communities by allowing electronic messaging i.e. SMS and emails. For now, it will be used to manage absences messages i.e. you will receive a SMS or email alert if your child is absent from school requesting a response.  It will also allow us to send a communication message to all parent and carers.

The platform will, over time, be rolled out across all Tasmanian Government Schools and new features will be added. 

You will receive a text message and/or an email with further details.  Note, the text message sender will be a shortened version of our school’s name - Please keep an eye out for it!

 Further information is available on the Department’s website:

Communication Process

Whilst everyone wants to feel safe and enjoy happy times at school, from time-to-time issues may arise.

If you or your child would like to speak about an issue at school, please follow the flow chart below for the best way to resolve a problem.

Introducing Our New Staff

Anne Thompson, EAL Teacher

Hi Montello Community, I am very pleased to be working at MPS every Wednesday as an EAL (English as an Additional Language) support teacher for a delightful group of students.

Something I really enjoy is to try food from other cultures and I also love listening to audio books.

I look forward to meeting you during the year😊

Catherine Gbenga, Teacher - 3/4 Kangaroos

I am excited to return to Montello. The students I taught in Kinder are now in grade 9!  I really enjoy reading, being active and mindful colouring. I love spending time with my husband, three daughters and our rescue greyhound called Emma. I have had a wonderful time with my class 3/4 Kangaroos and I am looking forward to being part of the Montello Community.

Caitlyn Potts, Teacher - 3/4 Potaroos

I am so excited to be a part of the Montello school community! I have had a wonderful first few weeks in 3/4 Potoroos. I have enjoyed getting to know the students in my class. I can’t wait to see what we achieve together in 2024.

Canteen

Subway Orders Open – every Wednesday

School Lunch Project

The School Lunch Project started on Tuesday and will happen every week for different grades until week 8.

Please find the School Lunch Project Timetable for this term below.

Drop Off Zone Rules

The start of the year is a great time to remind everyone of our Car Park rules. Please follow the rules of the Drop Off Zone to keep our students safe. Do not park and wait in the Drop Off Zone and hold up the flow of traffic.

Driveway Safety

Launching into Learning

Athletics Carnival

ATHLETICS CARNIVAL INFORMATION

We welcome all family and community members along to this special Prep - 6 event held on the school oval on Tuesday 27^th February, from 9:15am to 2:30pm.
(Our backup day will be on Thursday 29^th February should the weather be an issue on the 27^th).

A reminder that as a spectator, you are to please remain in the designated area on the bank and not join your child on the oval. Similarly, your child must remain on the oval and not join you on the bank.

CLOTHING:

Students have been allocated to one of the three House Groups:

Waratah – Red
Myrtle – Green
Wattle – Yellow

We do encourage children to wear their House colour T-Shirt, or something similar on the day. If your child does not have one of these coloured tops, then they can be purchased from the office for $8 each, size 4 - 14 and $10 for adult sizes (stock is limited). If purchasing from the office, please purchase prior to the event to avoid missing out. Students should also wear/bring appropriate clothing (shorts and footwear for running) and a hat. Shoes must be worn while competing – no running spikes or bare feet!

Students should bring plenty to eat, including snacks and a full drink bottle with water.

Lunch will be provided for the Grade 3/4s due to the lunch program that is happening again this year.

Mr Speglic
PE Teacher

Chaplain’s Chat

• Otto & I are very happy to be back at Montello Primary this year catching up with old friends and making new friends. Montello was lucky enough to receive extra funding for chaplaincy this year so I will be at Montello for 10 hours instead of 6 hours - Tuesday mornings & all day Wednesday. I'm looking forward to walking alongside you as you experience the many emotions that make up our lives.
• During the holidays I enjoyed some time helping both in the kitchen & as a support person at 2 Riverbend camps where lots of Montello students enjoyed a great time. Highlights from camp included "making new friends, the food, the waterslide & the visit to the pool." Other activities included the new jumping pillow, a team obstacle course to earn a cup of paint to throw at a screen and create a masterpiece and a scarecrows game where campers had to collect a wheelbarrow from the oval and  find the pieces they needed from leaders around camp to make a scarecrow for Mr McGregor's Garden.

• Christmas Box update: Ever since we finished packing our boxes of gifts ready to bring joy to children in need overseas Beemer has been asking which country our boxes were going to. Over the holidays I received an email to say they were on their way to Fiji.

If you think I can help you and your child in some way or you'd like to chat please leave a message at the school office.

Chaplain Sue & Otto the Otter

Chaplain’s Thought

Free Bread

NAPLAN 2024

Students will be sitting NAPLAN between 15 and 27 March 2024.

The National Assessment Program-Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) assesses literacy and numeracy skills that students are already learning at school. On its own, NAPLAN is not a test that can be studied for, and students are not expected to do so.

NAPLAN is just one aspect of a school’s assessment and reporting process – it does not replace ongoing assessments made by teachers about student performance; however, students and parents may use individual results to discuss progress with teachers.

Your questions answered on NAPLAN and what it means for your child: NAPLAN information brochure for parents and carers:

The link will take you to the official National Assessment Program (NAP) website.

Please contact the school if you have any further queries.

School Levies and Charges for 2024

Levies are one of the many ways that families contribute to our school community. Levies support student learning by contributing towards the cost of essential items and services.

When setting school levies and charges the school:

• considers inclusive education, community expectations and family financial constraints
• sets levies at the lowest amount possible
• consults with the School Association of the school.

Levies are invoiced in Term One each year and can be paid in full or in instalments using a payment plan. Payment plans are available for all families and may continue through to the end of the school year.

Families who are supported through the Student Assistance Scheme (STAS) do not need to pay levies. Parents holding a Health Care Card, Low Income Health Care Card, or Pensioner Concession Card are eligible to apply for STAS for their children.

How do I pay levies and charges?

Levies can be paid:

• At the school (by EFTPOS, cash or cheque)
• At Service Tasmania (by EFTPOS, cash or cheque)
• Through BPAY (using the Biller Code and Reference on your invoice)
• By mail, forward your cheque, money order or credit card details to the school, with the payment slip from your invoice attached (payable to the Department of Education)
• Using Centrepay, a service provided by Centrelink.

You can choose to pay your levies by instalment by contacting the school to set up a payment plan of regular instalments. Payment plans can continue through to the end of the school year.

Can I get help with school levies?

There are a range of options available to support families with the costs of schooling.

• You are eligible for the Student Assistance Scheme (STAS) if you hold a Health Care Card, Low Income Health Care Card, or Pensioner Concession Card. Once you have applied and are approved for STAS, you will not need to pay any levies. You may apply online Student Assistance Scheme (STAS) (education.tas.gov.au), or collect a paper application form from your school office.
• Families receiving STAS can access the Spectacles Assistance Scheme to support children who require spectacles.
• For more information: https://www.education.tas.gov.au/parents-carers/parent-fact-sheets/fees-levies/

If you are experiencing financial difficulty or financial hardship, and none of the support options above will work for your family, you can contact our School Business Manager Emma Short on 6432 2755 or by emailing emma.short@decyp.tas.gov.au or you can contact the Department of Education’s Financial Services Unit on 1800 827 055 or Fin.Serv@decyp.tas.gov.au  

Where can I access the Levies and Charges Policy for our school?

You can request a copy of our Levies and Charges Policy from the school office or by emailing montello.primary@decyp.tas.gov.au

What will happen if I forget to pay?

Students will not be prevented from participating in any learning activities that are part of the curriculum if their levies have not been paid.

If your family has not paid their levies by the due date, and has not organised to pay in instalments, the school will be in contact to remind you that payment is due and will check to see if your family requires support. If your levies remain unpaid after the school has sent two follow-up letters, the matter will be forwarded to Finance and Budget Services within the Department of Education to be followed up.

Under no circumstances will the status of payment of levies or charges be discussed directly with students.

Who can I talk to about levies?

You are a valued member of our school community, and we welcome your feedback on levies and charges at our school.

You can contact our School Business Manager Emma Short on 6432 2755 or by emailing emma.short@decyp.tas.gov.au if you have any questions or would like to talk about levies at our school. Personal information relating to levies will always be treated with total confidentiality.

The levies and charges we receive from families supports our school to deliver learning opportunities for all students. Thank you for your contribution.

Softshell Jacket Order

Softshell Jackets are currently available to order! Please note these items are by ORDER only and are not kept in stock like our polar fleece and polo shirts, so to avoid disappointment please have your orders back to school by Wednesday 10^th April. 

Class Snapshot

1/2 Koalas

3/4 Quokkas

Burnie Library

Community Notice Board

Burnie Junior Hockey

2024 Term Dates