From the Principal’s Desk Dear Parents, Students and Friends

2014 Preparations for 2014 are well underway. It is vital at this stage that we receive information about students who may not be returning next year and that all enrolments for 2014 are completed.

As Step Up is about to begin in two weeks, we are currently collating class lists and making sure students are placed with a good mix of friends and students they do not know as well. A number of factors are taken into account when placing students in class groups. We look at social, behavioural, gender and academic factors and try and balance classes based on this information.

I have received a small number of emails/letters from parents regarding their

child’s placement for next year. Academic and social reasons only will be

taken into consideration when placing students into classes. As per policy in recent years, requests regarding specific teachers will not be considered.

Next year, we will have 21 classes plus all current Specialist programs will be accommodated for. There will be no composite classes across the school and the Prep classes will all have less than 20 in each class. The Mod 5, consisting of two additional classrooms for our school, is yet to arrive but the process has begun with the site (in front of the play equipment facing onto Grand Boulevard) being measured up yesterday. They are hoping to deliver it in a few weeks and then work over January to give it a ‘makeover’ and additional attention in preparation for 2014. With the mod 5 we will be able to run 21 classes without losing specialist areas. This term, we have advertised a number of teaching and Education Support staff positions and the selection process has begun.

Staff News It is with much sadness that I report that two of our favourite people will be taking leave next year.

Melanie Vaughan is taking 12 months leave to accompany her partner to Cairns where he has been stationed, in his role with the Australian Navy.

At this stage the placement is for 12 months and if so, Mel will return to Monty South, however, nothing is assured at this stage.

Andy Moore is also taking leave next year to accompany his wife to Spain where she will be studying her Masters at university. Andy will be looking after his daughter, Henrietta whilst his wife (Ness) completes her studies. However, there is some good news, as we are expecting Andy back with us sometime in 2015.

On behalf of the community I wish them both a wonderful experience on their life journey. We hope that it is all that you want it to be and more. I thank them both for the contribution they have made to our school. Mel has worked

TERM 4– Week 7 Thursday 21st November 2013

What’s Coming Up? Nov Mon 25 Chooks -3NT Wed 27 3

rd Kinder Transition 1pm-

2pm Dec Mon 2 MSPS Step Up program

begins Chooks 3H Tues 3 Step Up Session 2 School Council 7.15pm Wed 4 4

th Kinder Transition 12 noon

2014 Prep Parent Barbeque 6pm

Mon 9 Step Up Session 3

Tues 10 Year 6 to & Transition Day Whole School Step Up Day Year 6 Dinner - 6.00pm Wed 11 Whole School Christmas

Carols – 6.30pm for a 7pm start

Thurs 12 Final Graduation Meeting Tues 17 Graduation-Planetshakers

Lower Plenty Wed 18 Senior Students (5/6) to

roller skating Thurs 19 Final day for students Whole School Picnic to

Eltham Little Train Dismissal 3.30pm Fri 20 PLANNING DAY –PUPIL FREE

DAY TERM 4 ENDS

2014 Mar Fri 14 School Photos

on a number of committees and has always taken on extra tasks without hesitation. She is calm, relaxed and a terrific teacher. It will be hard to replace her. Andy also has volunteered for extra tasks even though he is a graduate teacher. He took over the Ensemble band from Andy Coates and has done a great job. He is patient, kind and caring and has the ability to make people feel very special. Again, hard to replace but we look forward to him coming back in 2015. Emma Hooper will be taking two weeks leave from Wednesday 4

th December

to Monday 16th

December as she is undergoing surgery. Neil Whitehead and Kylie Tyzack will both be replacing Emma while she is on leave because the students know them extremely well as they currently teach in that area. We wish Emma all the best for her operation and a speedy recovery to good health.

Prep 2014 Transition Program A most successful Prep Transition program is underway and our 2014 Preps look set to commence school next year full of enthusiasm and confidence. Once again, many thanks to Amanda McDonald, Monique Rankin, Tegan Caldwell and Melanie Vaughan for their efforts in organising these sessions. All 2014 Preps will attend school on Tuesday 10th December for the final 5

th

session and will meet with their 2014 Prep teacher and class from 9-11am. There will also be an opportunity for the families to meet each other and the staff at the Prep Parent Barbeque on Wednesday 4

th December at 6.00pm.

2014 Student Leadership Team

All students in the Senior area have been briefed on student leadership skills and advised of the leadership positions available in 2014. The selection process for all student leadership positions is by:

1. Application 2. Interview 3. In case of School Captains-a speech to the whole school and voting.

All the applications should detail why the applicant is a likely candidate and how they would approach their role. The 2014 Student Leadership Team will comprise of the following roles:

School Captains-male and female Year 6 students Vice School Captains-male and female Year 6 students Library Captains-2 positions Performing Arts-2 positions Visual Arts -2 positions Sustainability Captains-2 positions House Captains--8 positions NEW in 2014 Sports Captains--2 positions

All applications are due in to my office by 4.00pm Thursday December 5

th.

These positions will be announced at the last Assembly of the year on Thursday 19th December. .

Birthdays

Nov 21 – 28

21 Lachlan Macintosh 22 Lucia Zhang Charlie Scott 23 Reuben Winnell 24 Lil Solar 25 Noah Pearsall 26 Ashley Arndt 27 Monet Newey Alysia Makridis

Jarrod Leaper Tom Stewart 28 Devon Noons

MANY HAPPY RETURNS

Best Birthday Wishes to all of the above

students

Echuca Camp. Congratulations to all involved in the Middle Years camp to Echuca. We received a card from the volunteers at Campaspe Run where the students visited one day saying the following: Just a note from the volunteers of Campaspe Run to let you know what a wonderful, well behaved group of children we had last Wednesday. Even though they had a big day in Bendigo and some were a bit tired, they did you proud in representing Montmorency South. Hope they enjoyed their stay at the Billabong Ranch. Best Wishes to you and your staff and a Merry Christmas to you all

Volunteer-Judy Simons.

We extend our thanks to the following people: Jacqui Rapsey (Coordinator), Emma Hooper, Neil Whitehead, Kristian Walker, Jill Morris, Chris Cameron, Helen Giller, Mick Dewdney, Benjamin Chetcuti, Renee Unthank, Shirley Bramich, Clem Brancaleone and Michael Suares. Your efforts to make this a successful camp are very much appreciated.

CAVE Scholarship Winner Each year, the committee of C.A.V.E. (Community and Volunteers of Eltham Inc) award a scholarship to a student at our school known as the Judith Ireland Award. Judith Ireland was a teacher and psychologist who lived and worked in the Eltham area and who had strong links to her local church and community organisations. C.A.V.E. was one of those community organisations and Judith was President of the group until her untimely death in 2005. In honour of Judith and her work and her philosophy

on life, the group has made an award so as to encourage her vision and direction to continue in the Eltham area. The Award seeks to support and recognise students who are striving to reach their full potential. This year the scholarship was awarded to a student who is much loved and admired. This student is quiet and does not take a front role in most things but he is always doing things for others. He will help out with the younger students, offer to help in the classroom and just participates in all school activities in that quiet, unassuming manner. He respects everyone and I have never seen him speak rudely or say anything mean to anyone. He also tries so hard with his school work-giving 100% effort. We were thrilled to award the 2013 Judith Ireland Award to LACHLAN JONES 6C – You are a champ Lachlan and good luck for your future schooling.

2013 School Council Members

President Paul Munnings Vice President Ange Dewdney Minute Secretary Rita Fernandez Parent Members Jo Scott Meg Uren Stephen Longmuir Violette Saro Rachel Crick Staff Members Tracey Cole Kristian Walker Amanda McDonald Merriel Hayes Co-opted Members Rob Charlesworth Drew Salisbury Treasurer: Duncan McColl

Executive Officer: Leanne Sheean

MSPS ACHIEVERS

Congratulations to Hannah Tippett who recently sat her first flute exam with the AMEB board and passed with a credit. This is a fantastic effort Hannah and we are thrilled for you.

Congratulations also to Mackie Scales 5N who as Environmental Captain, organised student activities for National Recycle Week. Mackie organised these activities during her lunch and showed her wonderful organisational skills and her tenacity to stay on task. Well done Mackie we are really proud of you.

Extended Holiday If your family is intending to extend the school holiday period, which may result in your child finishing the school year early, or a delayed return to school in 2014, please send a note to your child’s teacher immediately, stating clearly the child’s full name and the dates the child will be absent from and to. .

Have a lovely weekend

Regards

Leanne Sheean

Principal

SCHOOL COUNCIL SUBCOMMITTEE NEWS

School Council subcommittees assist the MSPS School Council in the work that needs to be done and report regularly at the meetings. They provide advice and make recommendations to School Council which has the final responsibility for making decisions.

Parents & Friends Group-President –

Tania Weddle Coming Up........

School Banking The Commonwealth Bank have announced some changes to the school banking program for 2014. There will be a whole new range of prizes and all tokens will be automatically tracked in the system each time you bank. The money boxes are going to be phased out, but we still have some in stock, so if you were wanting one, this is the time to put your order in. The new online token system means that everyone will be starting with ‘0’ tokens at the beginning of the year, so it’s best to order things now to use any tokens you have saved. We have a number of prizes in stock still, so don’t worry if you don’t quite make it to 10 tokens at the end of term – we’ll do our best to make sure that everyone gets something for their remaining tokens. Last day for school banking will be Thursday, 12th December. As school banking is done by parent volunteers, we need to work around peoples’ work commitments, so next year, school banking will be done on WEDNESDAYS. Sorry for any confusion! Thanks to everyone for another great year of saving and we look forward to seeing you back in 2014. Kind regards, The School Banking Team!

From the garden..

One of the many highlights of the garden is the harvesting of delicious veg. The reaction from the children that sowed the seed and have nurtured the plant to then harvest and cook with it is incredibly rewarding to see. This week we harvested the best looking carrots I’ve seen, along with cabbage, kohlrabi, leafy greens, broccoli and herbs.

I am now taking expressions of interest for involvement in the Stephanie Alexander Garden for Term 1 of 2014 and chook duty for the coming holidays. Please contact Jenna on 0406738220 or email: jennafarrington@hotmail.com Happy Gardening!

This week in the kitchen… We have focussed on Natural disasters in America, Japan and Australia this week. We have cooked ‘Sothern style’ Coleslaw, Cornbread and Succotash salad and talked about the impact of Hurricane Katrina on the southern part of America in 2006. We made Okonomiyaki (Japanese vegetable pancakes) and saw pictures of the damage caused by the Japanese Tsunami of 2011. A chick pea salad and banana ice cream were inspired by the flood damage to crops caused by the 2009 Queensland floods. The children have enjoyed slicing and dicing the fantastic cabbages pulled from our garden. Okonomiyaki is a great way to use the humble cabbage. Please find the recipe in this Hoot. I am looking for volunteers to help in the following class: Monday 9th December 9.15 – 11.00. Please contact me on 0419 322 782 or candchulme@optusnet.com.au

The Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Program

Christmas Gingerbread

House Workshop Saturday 30th November.

Join with us to construct your very own impressive and delicious Christmas treat. More details later in the Hoot

Okonomiyaki Serves 24 - 30 tastes Source: Adapted from ‘Save with Jamie’

Ingredients

1 onion, peeled and sliced

1 small cabbage

1 carrot grated

350 grams silken tofu

6 large eggs

150 grams plain flour

Olive oil

Salt and pepper

Mayonnaise and BBQ sauce to serve

Equipment Measuring cups and spoons Mixing bowls Knives Chopping boards Frying pans x 2 Serving plates

What to do:

Peel the onion and finely slice it. Finley slice the cabbage, removing any tough stems. Grate the carrot.

Pat the tofu dry on kitchen paper and cut into cubes.

Whisk the eggs and flour together until smooth, season well with salt and pepper.

Fold in the vegetables until well combined, then carefully fold through the tofu.

Heat a lug of olive oil in each pan, pour the mixture evenly into both pans and cook over a medium heat for about 5 minutes per side.

To flip the okonomiyaki, ease it onto a plate, put another plate on top, flip and return the uncooked side to the pan.

When golden and cooked through, turn out onto a serving plate and drizzle with mayonnaise and BBQ sauce. Serve immediately.

Student of the Week Caitlin Munnings Prep V For writing an interesting story about a magic finger.

Harry Doody Prep V For writing an interesting story about a magic finger.

Ruby Timmons Prep R For challenging herself by writing more every day!

Cailin Pritchard Prep R For working persistently on her writing goal.

Pearl Clark Grade 3R For showing excellent independence during camp and participating in all activities with gusto!

Jessica Stuart Grade 2H for the wonderful improvement she has shown in all areas of the curriculum

Angie Lee Grade 2L for always being a caring classmate.

Alexander Zamfirescu

Prep C For being an enthusiastic reader. Well done on your amazing progress this year.

Leo Warnock-Williams

Grade 4M For being an excellent camper at Billabong Ranch.

Ashwin Siva Prep R For consistently aiming for his personal best! Thomas Tutera Prep R For working hard to achieve his writing goals.

1 Para Rd , Lower Plenty, 3093. PH: 9434 6490

3 year old Kinder session times:

Monday:8.30 – 11.00 am

Thursday:9.00 – 11.30 am

Places still available for 2014. Come and experience our unique, natural and nurturing environment.