Dear Families

We are beginning to plan the number of classes and staffing required for 2025. To do this well and with accuracy, we need to be confident about our enrolments. If you know that your child/children won’t be returning to Mowbray Heights next year, please contact the office staff to complete the available form or email your child's class teacher. Under the Education Act it is the responsibility of parents to notify the school in writing when their child is leaving to attend another school. 

In the last two weeks of November we will begin working on class placements for next year. Placing children in classes is always carefully considered and many things are taken into account, including the educational needs of students, gender, friendships and work habits. We also consider parent and carer knowledge, as they often have important information to share with us about their child which can be very helpful.  

If you would like to communicate information that will support your child’s placement in 2025 you are welcome to make a time to meet with me, contact me via phone 63261892, or email me at sharon.symes@decyp.tas.gov.au. It is important that you communicate with me and not discuss individual needs with class teachers. In a school as big as ours, it is important to keep track of the information.

The information you give me will be taken into account, along with the significant knowledge our staff has of your child. We commit a great deal of thought and time into arranging classes. Once we start placing over 500 students in classes, it is difficult to make changes, as so many factors will have been considered which affect not only your child, but also the other students in their new class. It is essential to know that requests for a particular teacher will not be considered. The opportunity to provide information supporting class placements closes on Thursday 14 November.  

Sharon

Last Wednesday, under a beautiful blue sky, we held our Early Childhood Athletic Carnival on our school oval. The Kindergarten - Year 2 students definitely demonstrated enthusiasm and energy throughout the event. Running races, egg and spoon race, sack race, tug of war, chicken race and parachute play ensured students were continuously moving and happy. Well done to our early childhood students for their participation in a successful day of athletics! 

Thank you to all of the MHPS staff, and our House Captains and House Vice Captains, who were instrumental in the set-up, execution, and pack-up on the day. Thank you also to the many families who came along to support their child.

Josh Leighton - HPE Teacher

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

Our annual Swimming and Water Safety Program began on Tuesday 5 November and finishes on Friday 15 November.  The venue for the program is the Launceston Church Grammar School Pool.

This is a fantastic learning opportunity for all students in Years 3, 4 and 5, as well as selected Year 6 students. Students will develop skills in submersion, buoyancy, propulsion, as well as learn key safety messages including what to do should they ever fall into a pool, lake, river or the ocean. A copy of the timetable is below:

Please ensure your child has their bathers, a towel and a plastic bag for wet clothing. We will be swimming indoors, therefore rash tops are optional. Goggles can be worn however students may be asked to take them off during some activities.

Josh Leighton - Health and Physical Education Teacher

We wish our Junior Girls and Junior Boys basketball teams the very best of luck for the weekend tournament.  Spectators are most welcome and entry to the venues is free.

Sunday game times for our Junior Boys will depend on where we finish in the pool.

On Tuesday 12 November, the Prep Classes will be travelling to the QVMAG at Inveresk. Students will be engaging in learning experiences offered at the museum relating to science.

Classes will depart school at 9:30 am travelling by bus to the QVMAG. After our time at the museum, we will travel by bus to City Park for lunch. Classes will depart City Park by bus to return to school by 2:45 pm.

Children will need to wear full school uniform and suitable shoes for walking.  A packed recess, packed lunch, and a drink bottle containing water are required.  There will be no canteen lunch orders on this day.

Kristie, Rylie and Paige

From Tuesday 12 November to Friday 29 November, Pre-Kindergarten children are able to attend Early Start sessions without parents. This is a wonderful opportunity for the children to practise separating from family and to develop some independence in the school setting.

There will be a Teacher and Teacher Assistants to supervise and support your child during this transition. The staff enjoy this valuable time to get to know your child and make stronger connections with them. We would expect that children attend on their regular Pre-Kindergarten day and time.

It is a legal requirement that parents remain at school while your child attends Early Start. During this time parents will have an opportunity to move to another location in the school grounds and have a tea or coffee with other parents and staff. I will share information with you about enrolment, uniforms and the Kindergarten Program. You will have about 10 minutes to settle your child into the program before each parent session begins.

Our LiL staff are happy to answer any questions.

On Thursday 14 November, all Prep, Year 1 and Year 2 students will have the opportunity to experience Braveheart's personal safety education program - Ditto's Keep Safe Adventure Show. The show is age appropriate and will provide them with personal safety tools and strategies, while supporting positive self-esteem and resilience building. An information sheet is coming home with all students today.

Jasmine Bird - AST Early Childhood

Family Planning Tasmania will be visiting our school from Monday 18 November to Friday 22 November to provide The Growing Up Program – a relationships, sexuality and protective behaviours program.

The Growing Up Program (GUP) is Tasmania’s leading relationships, sexuality and protective behaviours’ program for students from Kindergarten through to Year 6. 

It is facilitated by an experienced team of Family Planning Tasmania educators, and is age and developmentally appropriate, sequential, and evidence-based. 

The program is aligned to the: 

• Australian Curriculum 
• Early Years Learning Framework 
• Respectful Relationships and Consent Teaching and Learning Package 

GUP reflects the latest in sexual and reproductive health research, and aims to maximise learning outcomes, and increase positive communication between parents  and carers and their child/children. 

Growing Up educators will encourage children to talk to their families and other trusted adults and consider their own family’s beliefs and values. 

Family Planning Tasmania recommends that students be provided with relationships, sexuality and protective behaviours education each year. 

By clicking on the below link, parents and carers will be able to access information to their child/children’s program. https://fpt.org.au/programs/parents-carers/the-growing-up-program-gup-parents-carers/

We are very much looking forward to joining our Year 6 students at the Leavers' Dinner. This evening is a wonderful occasion, celebrating learning, friendships and all that makes their time at MHPS memorable.

When: Monday 9 December 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm

Venue: UTAS Stadium Function Centre, Invermay Road

Cost: $35.00

Professional photos: An option available for families costing $36.00 

Payment for the dinner and optional professional photos can be made at the school office by cash or card. All payments are required by Friday 29 November.

Each year our Year 6 students have the option of wearing a Leavers' Polo Top. This is a long standing and special tradition.  Leavers Polo Tops are available for purchase at a cost of $40.00 each for Short Sleeve and $45.00 for Long Sleeve. If you would like your child to have this opportunity please complete the 2025 Year 6 Leavers Polo Top order form which will come home with our Year 5 students this week. There will be one order placed for the year. The expected delivery date for polo tops is early Term One, 2025.  

Please return the Order Form and payment to the School Office by Wednesday 11 December 2024.

There are 5 Size 10 2024 Leavers' Polos still available for purchase.  The tops are $35.00 and can be purchased at the school office.

The current supplier of our school dress will now only fill an order of a minimum of 30 dresses per size. We offer a full range of sizes, which means we could have hundreds of school dresses in the Uniform Cupboard. Our Uniform Co-ordinator has spoken to another supplier who is happy to fill order amounts in the quantities we require, however, the dress is slightly different. The cost of the new dress is the same as our current dress.

We do not expect families to buy the new dress until it suits them and we are happy for our students to wear either dress.

To speed up the transition to the new dress we are offering the current style dress at a discounted price of $30.

In showing the dress to families, the feedback so far has been extremely positive. Please feel free to provide any feedback you have to the Admin Team.

SunSmart Tips for a Safe Summer!

As the warmer weather rolls in, it's essential to remember that higher levels of Ultraviolet (UV) radiation are on the way. Protecting our skin from UV exposure is crucial, as it can lead to skin cancer and other skin and eye damage later in life.

Cancer Council Tasmania encourages everyone to be SunSmart by following these simple tips:

• Slip on a shirt: Choose clothing that covers your skin. Lightweight, tightly woven fabrics are best for protection.
• Slop on sunscreen: Apply a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher to all exposed skin. Don’t forget to reapply every two hours, especially after swimming or sweating.
• Slap on a hat: Wear a broad-brimmed hat to shade your face, neck, and ears. A hat with a wide brim (at least 7.5 cm) offers the best protection.
• Seek shade: Whenever possible, stay in the shade, especially during the hottest parts of the day (10 a.m. to 4 p.m.).
• Slide on some sunglasses: Protect your eyes with UV-blocking sunglasses. Look for labels indicating they provide UV protection.

Remember to use a combination of these sun protection measures when the UV Index is 3 or above.

For more information on staying safe in the sun, visit the Cancer Council Tasmania's SunSmart page .

Enjoy the beautiful weather while keeping your skin safe!    

Nurse Pia

We are now accepting Kindergarten enrolments for next year.  To be eligible for Kindergarten in 2025, children need to be 4 on or before the 1st January 2025.  When enrolling in a Tasmanian Government school for the first time, evidence must be provided in relation to student identity, the parent/guardian identity, student residential address and student immunisation. 

Evidence is required in relation to student identity which may include one of the following:

• Australian Birth Certificate
• Current Australian or foreign passport and visa

Evidence is required in relation to parent or legal guardian identity which may include one of the following:

• Birth Certificate
• Current Australian Drivers Licence
• Current Australian passport or foreign passport and visa 

Evidence is required in relation to residential address which may include one of the following:

• Birth Certificate
• Current Australian Drivers Licence
• Current Australian passport or foreign passport and visa 

Evidence is required in relation to immunisation which may include one of the following:

• The child's Health Record Book (Blue Book)
• A printout from the Medicare - Australian Immunisation Register

Kindergarten at Mowbray Heights Primary School is a three full day program. Please phone the office or drop in to register your child’s name and begin the enrolment process. 

If you have completed an enrolment form for Launching into Learning your intention to enrol your child, if in our intake area, is already known and underway.

Please note: We are not able to accept Expressions of Interest for an Out of Area Enrolment as we are at capacity.

Sharon

Term Dates

Professional Learning Days