Welcome back to all members of our school community. I hope you enjoyed your break!

Throughout the year it is important that we continually remind ourselves of our school values - Respect, Courage, Responsibility, Connection and Growth.  Our values are central to everything we do.  They reflect what we stand for, support our decision making and guide us in how we work together as a school community.

Growth, our main focus this term, is about always learning and finding better ways to do things. The value of growth is intrinsic to the work we do. Living the value of growth means:

• Reflecting on our current situation and looking for ways to improve
• Learning new skills
• Taking on bigger challenges, even if we’re not sure how we will achieve them
• Asking for help or constructive feedback
• Learning from our mistakes
• Being prepared to put the effort in, even when we don’t see results right away
• Believing that our potential is not fixed, but rather depends on our effort and attitude.

Growth can be sudden and obvious, but also subtle and slow. Living the value of growth means that we are focused on the process of learning, not on the results. 

Best wishes for a wonderful a term!

Sharon

By showing up to school every day, your child will have the best opportunity at a bright future. It gives them every chance to be around friends, learn new things, and find interests.  We have lots in store for them this term, including our Cross Country Carnival, performances, excursions, Fire Education and SRC events, and of course some exciting learning to be done! 

Good attendance habits can sometimes be hard to stick to. Keep trying to create a solid routine, to set your child up for success for the rest of the year. If you’re looking for tips on how to create better attendance habits, visit the Anything can happen website.

Please always talk to us if you’re having trouble getting your child to school. We are here to help.

Congratulations to the following students who received awards at our last assembly.

Due to one of our original House Captains moving interstate, we have an adjustment in this student leadership area. Congratulations to Afraim who has joined the group as a Vice House Captain for Beatty. A further congratulations to Peter who has now been elevated to Beatty House Captain.  Best wishes boys!

Lawn Bowls @ Kings Meadows Indoor Bowls Club

Kingball - Bye

Netball - MHPS v East Launceston Primary School

Football - MHPS v East Launceston Primary School

Soccer - East Launceston Primary School v MHPS

Chairperson’s Report presented at the Annual General Meeting 4 April 2024

It is with great pleasure that I present my Presidents report for 2024.

I would like to thank each of you for your contribution to this committee.  I know the wider school community are very grateful for the time and effort that you put in to make sure the school has an Association that is prepared to do the best for its students, staff and wider school community. I welcome Shannon back to our group as she signs on for another 2 years.

I will make a special mention to Joanne Young who has departed our group.  During her time on the committee she held the Deputy Chairperson position for several years and was a great source of support to me. Her contribution to not only the school association but more widely across the school including fundraising events was amazing

Last year we had our External School Review which is held every 4 years in schools throughout Tasmania.  Interviews took place over 3 days with students, parents and staff all being asked a series of questions.  The panel also observed in class teaching to gather a wide variety of data to help formulate their report.  The panel truly came to understand the heart of our school and had a glimpse of the "Mowbray Way". The staff are to be commended on the incredible work they do every day and this report is just another way to showcase this to the wider community.

I will again take this opportunity to formally thank you all for your dedication and input into this group.  It is quite difficult for people to commit to volunteer roles such as these and to have a committed group that has its members returning year after year is quite remarkable.  It is more important than ever to have parent and community consultation on important school matters as our school is heading into a new and exciting phase of structural redevelopment.

Looking forward, we will try to open up more opportunities for informal conversations between different parent groups in a hope to gather more ideas and suggestions from parents and carers.  It will be a way for them to have more of a say through their parent body and will also hopefully make parents feel more comfortable to put their hand up to help with other school events, including fundraising. This will in turn set up our school parent body to be successful for many years to come.

I thank you for allowing me to lead this group for the last 12 months and I look forward to an exciting year ahead.

Priscilla - Chairperson

2024 School Association Committe Members

P&C is a sub-committe of the School Association. The main functions of our P&C are fundraising and providing a clear pathway for communication with the School Association. At the moment we have two parents who lead this committee and they are very keen for support. In a school of just under 500 students we are hoping that someone may be interested in getting involved.

• Would you like to help out and support your child's school but don't know how? 
• Do you have an idea for a great fundraiser? 
• Are you a business owner and would like to know how you can support the P&C fundraising efforts? 
• Would you like to talk to a parent representative from the School Association? 

We will be having a get together for parents and carers on:

Date and time: Thursday 9 May from 1:00 pm to 3:30 pm

Venue: PAC (small end). 

You are welcome to drop in at anytime and for as long as you need. Children are welcome as it will be a very informal occasion.  

If you have any questions or are not able to attend but would like to discuss something, please reach out to Priscilla Chilcott, School Association Chairperson on 0418 146 703 or email prcparty@yahoo.com.au               

P&C Committee

The following sizes are available in the 2024 Year 6 Leavers Polos.  The tops are $35.00 and can be purchased at the school office. These are the last sizes available and no further orders will be placed.

Library Days for Term 2

Kaz Searle - Library Teacher

Inside Out 4 Kids is a peer support, education program providing a healthy path toward healing for children and young people who are dealing with significant change.  The aim of the program is to assist children through the grief process when confronted with a change, loss or transition in their lives, for example family breakdown or the death of someone close to them.

The program consists of eight weekly sessions that run for 45 minutes each, during school hours.  Children meet in small support groups (2 – 5 members) with a trained facilitator. In this safe environment students are encouraged to talk, listen, as well as take part in games and activities, to develop strategies they can use to process their loss or change.  There is no cost involved.

Over the 8 week x 45 minute sessions the program covers:

• Week 1               My Story
• Week 2               Emotions and Feelings
• Week 3               Emotions, Feelings and Anger
• Week 4               My Heart, Grief and Loss
• Week 5               Memories and Moving On
• Week 6               I Belong, A Sense of Self Identity
• Week 7               Connection and Hope
• Week 8               Celebration Week

Our Chaplain Stephen Avery will be facilitating this program this term.  

If you think this program may assist your child/children please call the Admin team on 6326 1892 to register your interest.  Stephen will then make contact with parents to share more information and answer any questions.

If you are interested in joining our Educational Facility Attendant Team in a relief capacity, we would love to hear from you! As an EFA your role is pivotal in creating a clean, safe and well-maintained environment for our staff and students here at Mowbray Heights Primary School. As part of a team, you will perform various tasks which may involve cleaning, grounds keeping and some basic maintenance. As part of the DECYP recruitment process, we can only employ staff from the DECYP Register and you must have a current RWVP. Here is the link to join the DECYP Register: https://www.jobs.tas.gov.au/employment_registers/teacher_fixed_term_and_relief_employment_register

If you would like to discuss this opportunity or require assistance with registering please contact Tina Todman (School Business Manager) on 63261892 or pop in to the office.

Launching into Learning - Pre-Kinder

Pre-Kinder groups have started at Mowbray Heights Primary and will continue for the rest of the year as part of our Launching into Learning Program. Pre-Kinder is for children turning 4 this year who will start Kindergarten next year.

Families choose one Pre-kinder group to attend each week:

Tuesday 9:00 am – 10:00 am

Friday 9:00 am – 10:00 am

Friday 10:30 am – 11:30 am

Why Come to Pre-Kinder?

• Learn and Play
• Meet the teachers
• Get to know the routines
• Meet other families who will also be in Kindergarten next year

Children attend with an adult and there is no cost. You may also like to come to Kindy Gym and Playgroup.

If you have any questions, please ask us!

Lisa Probert, Kelsey Campbell and Danielle Evans

The Student Assistance Scheme provides assistance for low income families towards the cost of levies. STAS is provided to the school rather than paid directly to families. STAS 2024 application forms are available for new enrolments, or for families who have not applied for, or been in receipt of STAS in 2023. Please note, being the holder of a Centrelink Health Care Card does not automatically mean that a family will be approved for STAS. Families who were approved and received STAS in 2023 have been sent correspondence regarding STAS 2024 directly from the Department for Education, Children and Young People. STAS application forms can be downloaded from the Department's website at www.decyp.tas.gov.au or collected from our school office.