6 November 2025
Principal’s Report
On Friday 31 October we celebrated World Teachers’ Day, it was a time to recognise the dedication and professionalism of teachers across Australia. This year’s theme, “Hats off to teachers,” encouraged everyone to pause and acknowledge the incredible work teachers do each day to inspire, guide and support their students.
A big thank you also goes to every member of our staff team. Whether in the classroom, office, playground or learning support areas, your efforts help create the safe, positive, clean and welcoming environment that makes Montello such a special place to learn. Each of you play an important role in supporting our students to succeed and belong.
Thank you to our families for your ongoing support throughout the year. Working together helps our students feel encouraged and ready to achieve their best at school.
There are many events coming up between now and the end of the school year. Please keep an eye out for information and return any permission forms promptly so that students don’t miss out on upcoming activities and celebrations.
Fingers crossed for some sunshine with no wind between now and the end of the school year.
Dion McCall
Principal
Student Wellbeing & Engagement Survey Results
The staff at Montello are so proud of our Student Wellbeing and Engagement Survey (SWES) results for 2025.
Child and Student Wellbeing is a key priority for our department. The department’s Child and Student Wellbeing Strategy underpins DECYP’s current and future efforts to keep children and young people safe, well and engaged in learning, across all our learning environments and adopts the six ARACY wellbeing domains. Find out more about our approach to wellbeing.
The Student Wellbeing and Engagement Survey (SWES) is an annual survey completed by students in Years 4 – 12 in all eligible Tasmanian government schools. The SWES provides critical measures of student wellbeing through the voice of our learners.
The Survey data informs our school and system planning, our policies and services, and efforts to support the wellbeing of children and young people across Government.
It is so pleasing to see such fantastic results for Montello and the data also gives us some guidance about where to put our future efforts as a team. I am so proud of these results for the Montello Primary School community, and I am incredibly proud of our students, families and our staff for continuing to prioritise learning, safety and wellbeing.
For further information, contact: reformteam@decyp.tas.gov.au
Key Dates for Term 4
Friday 7th November
Pre-Kinder Orientation Session #3
Tuesday 11th November
Remembrance Day
Wednesday 12th November
5/6 Students Lego League Excursion
(bus leaves at 8:45am)
Friday 14th November
Pre-Kinder Orientation Session #4
Wednesday 19th November
Prep-6 Sea Country Excursion – Anzac Park, Somerset
Thursday 20th November
Kinder Sea Country Excursion – Anzac Park, Somerset
Hot Shots Tennis Program (after school)
Friday 21st November
Pre-Kinder Orientation Session #5
Monday 24th November
Grade 6 Big Day Out
Kinder-2 Ditto Keep Safe Adventure Show
Grade 3/4 Emusicians Concert
Tuesday 25th November
Children's University Graduation Day
Thursday 27th November
Zootopia Movies Excursion – K-6
Monday 1st – Friday 12th December
Swim Water Safety Program Grade 3-5 & at risk 6’s
Monday 1st December
Kinder Athletics Carnival
Wednesday 3rd December
Grade 6 Orientation Day at PHS
Wednesday 10th December
Grade 6 Assembly
Thursday 11th December
Grade 6 Celebration Evening
Friday 12th December
LiL Christmas Party
Monday 15th December
End of Year Celebration Assembly – Whole School
Tuesday 16th December
School Picnic Burnie Aquatic Centre
Kinder Last Day & End of Year Party
Wednesday 17th December
Grade 3-6 Christmas Lunch
Thursday 18th December
Last Day Term 4
Upcoming Events Term 4
Please see attached notices for some of the upcoming events for Term 4. Many of these notices require permission forms to be returned to school.
With so many exciting events coming up for our students please remember to keep an eye out in your child’s school bags for notices and check SMS and Seesaw messages from the school so you can keep up to date!
Grade 5/6 – Lego League
Prep-6 Sea Country Excursion
Kinder – Sea Country Excursion
Kinder Athletics Carnival
Prep-6 - School Picnic
*Consent forms for the Picnic are only required for Prep - Grade 2 students as Grade 3-6 consents have been filled in earlier in the year.
Zootopia 2 Movie Excursion
Children's University Graduation Information & RSVP
2026 Grade 6 Graduation Shirt Order Forms
2026 Emusicians Auditions
Class Snapshot
Kinder Joeys
During the year, Kinder Joeys have been investigating different technologies. We have used school iPads to explore learning apps. Our favourite apps are Bugs and Buttons and The Bee Bot app. We have experimented with digital drawing apps on Ms Maney’s laptop and improved our digital pen skills. We have also learnt to use Bee-Bots. We have improved our problem-solving skills through coding. We have had a large focus on our names this year. We have used name puzzles to count how many letters we each have, clapped the syllables in each other’s names, learning the names and some sounds of each letter in our names. Enjoy our photos! Look at the fun we are having.
Launching into Learning – PCYC Sessions
We have been visiting PCYC in our Wednesday Launching into Learning playgroup sessions. Look how confident we have become! We have one more session on November 12th if you would like to join in the fun. We would love to see you there!
Launching into Learning
Pre-Kinder Orientation Sessions
Ditto – Keep Safe Adventure Show
Ditto Keep Safe Adventure Show will be visiting our Kinder to Grade 2 students on Monday 24th November. Please see attached a letter from Bravehearts with more details about the show. Booklets went home with K-2 students this week.
Canteen News
Hello, Canteen Kim here with some updates for our Montello Families. As we are beginning to hit the end of the year, I'm starting to run stock down, you may notice certain changes to the canteen menu's availability in the next few weeks. To check these changes out, use the QKR app.
Don't worry, the menu may vary a little, but these items will be back next year, with a few exciting changes to come.
In other canteen news; we broke several records last week of items ordered in a single day.
Fruit salad cups broke the previous record of 15 orders with a whopping 17 in a single day.
We had 8 chocolate berry muffins ordered, wiping out the previous 4. Finally, although it might not seem like much, we had 7 chocolate custards ordered, breaking the previous record of 5.
Let's see what other records we can break over the next 5 weeks.
Canteen Kim
Canteen Supervisor
Term Dates for 2026
Chaplain’s Chat
- I hope everyone enjoyed their school holidays. I enjoyed my time helping in the kitchen at the Gr 3/4 Riverbend Camp but unfortunately caught Influenza A and, like many others in the school community, I spent a lot my holidays unwell. Hopefully this term will see less sickness.
- Last week, 20 students, the most we've ever had, finished preparing & packing boxes of Christmas gifts that will bring joy to children in need overseas. I dropped the boxes to the Burnie drop off location on Monday & they have now begun their long journey overseas via Launceston & Sydney. A really big thank you to the school families who donated items & funds for the boxes, the family who packed 3 boxes at home & to my church friends from Coastlands Baptist who donated items & contributed to the postage cost. It was great to have some Grade 6 students who have participated every year we have packed boxes. I'm not sure how we'll get on next year when JJ, our master box constructor has moved on to high school!!
- Next week is World Kindness Week which incorporates World Kindness Day on Thursday 13th November. In researching kindness here are some thoughts I found in an article by Steve Siegle on the Mayo Clinic Health website.
The art of kindness
Kindness is more than a behaviour, "the art of kindness involves harbouring a spirit of helpfulness, being generous and considerate, and doing so without expecting anything in return."
Kindness is good for the body increasing self-esteem, empathy and compassion, and improving mood. It can increase connectivity with others, decrease loneliness & improve relationships. Looking for ways to show kindness can give you something to focus on, especially if you are anxious or stressed in certain social situations.
Kindness is good for the mind, it can positively change your brain, boosting serotonin & dopamine which produce feelings of satisfaction & wellbeing
Kindness should also be extended to yourself. Steve says " If you wouldn't say it to your good neighbour, don't say it about yourself."
Kindness requires action - A great way to start the day is with the question "How am I going to practice kindness today? As Mr McCall often reminds us in morning notices "Choose Kind".
Chaplains Thought
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
Community Notice Board
Free Tennis Come & Try Day @MPS
Burnie Library - What’s On
Department for Education, Children and Young People
Montello Primary School
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