Dear Families

This year will bring many successes and challenges as usual. As we go about our day it is very important that we focus on building and maintaining respectful relationships between all members of the school community. Respecting each other enables us to develop trust and allows us to work collaboratively. 

This term in particular, our students will be focussing on the value of Respect - caring for ourselves, each other, and our environment and on the value Connection - building positive relationships and a sense of belonging.

Positive relationships are essential for learning and every learner must be given opportunities to succeed in an environment that is safe, supportive and inclusive.

Staff have a responsibility to model respectful behaviour, attitudes and communication as they work with students, each other and families, both in and out of the classroom. Working together to create a culture of respect ensures everyone can be assured of certainty and consistency in our interactions and relationships. 

We continue to welcome family engagement and genuinely consider families as integral members of our school community. Respectful interactions, effective communication and working in partnership, all require ongoing commitment from our families and positively influence learner wellbeing and success. 

Our school community is known to be inclusive, compassionate and respectful. Let's all recommit to these ways of being and celebrate the important role we each play in promoting a safe and supportive environment, one where our students lead bright lives and have positive futures.  

Sharon

The Leadership Team consists of Mrs Sharon Symes (Principal), Mrs Cindy Wright (Assistant Principal), Mrs Lisa Probert (Advanced Skills Teacher), Miss Jasmine Bird (Advanced Skills Teacher), Mrs Zoe Galloway (Advanced Skills Teacher), Mrs Abbi Maney (Acting Advanced Skills Teacher), Mrs Aimee Pridmore (Instructional Specialist) and Mrs Janaha Williams (Advanced Skills Teacher - Safeguarding Lead).

All of these people have a leadership portfolio, with one of their main priorities being to provide support to students and their families. It is most important that families communicate with their child’s class teacher where possible, however there may be times when families need the assistance of a leadership team member. 

Mrs Lisa Probert (lisa.probert@decyp.tas.gov.au) is the leadership team member allocated to supporting students and families in LiL, Kindergarten and Prep.

Miss Jasmine Bird (jasmine.bird@decyp.tas.gov.au) is the leadership team member allocated to supporting students and families in Year 1 and 2.

Mrs Zoe Galloway (zoe.galloway@decyp.tas.gov.au) is the leadership team member allocated to supporting students and families in Year 3 and 4.

Mrs Cindy Wright (cindy.wright@decyp.tas.gov.au) is the leadership team member allocated to supporting students and families in Year 5 and 6.

Families are able to communicate with the relevant leadership team member in person, over the phone (63261892) or by email.

The purpose of a school Student Dress Code and Uniform Policy is to promote social equity in terms of clothing, assist staff in easily identifying students and to enhance the sense of pride within a school. Our policy is in accordance with the Secretary’s Instruction No 6 for State School Student Dress Code and was developed in consultation with our School Association. It is a requirement that students wear the uniform our school endorses. 

The MHPS uniform consists of:

• Full length plain black tracksuit pants (no visible logo or markings, no long tights)
• Plain black shorts (no visible logo or markings, no skorts, no skirts, no bike shorts)
• Blue polo or gold polo with school logo
• School dress
• School rugby jumper
• School windcheater
• School hat (bucket or broad brimmed)

Black hijabs are available at the Uniform Cupboard.  Black leggings or stockings are able to be worn under the school dress for cultural, religious and medical reasons.

The footwear to accompany the uniform must be enclosed lace up or Velcro shoes, preferably black.

If families require any support with school uniforms please speak to a member of the Leadership Team.

Please Note: Our Uniform Cupboard is open every Monday from 8:30 am - 9:30 am. Order forms may be collected from the school office at any time. You can also order items using our Qkr! app. 

On Friday 28 February, the Year 5 and Year 6 students will be going on an excursion to Hobart. The bus will depart school at 7:00 am and will return by approximately 8:15 pm. As the bus will leave school at 7:00 am, it is vital that students are at school by 6:45 am. Students will be visiting ZooDoo at Richmond, the Hobart Royal Botanical Gardens and walking around Battery Point.

5-6 Teachers

We are looking forward to our Year 3 - Year 6 Athletic Carnival on Wednesday, 5 March. We are excited to welcome parents and family members to the event!

The Year 5-6 Carnival will start at 9:30 am and finish at 12:00 pm.

The Year 3-4 Carnival will start at 12:10 pm and finish at 2:45 pm.

A Canteen service isn't available at St Leonards. Students will need to bring along plenty of food and water for sustenance and hydration.

Year 5-6 students can place a lunch order on the day, however 3-4 students will need to bring their own lunch.

Please ensure that your child has suitable footwear for physical activity. Students are expected to wear their black school shorts and are allowed to wear a tshirt in their school House Colours if they wish. Face paint, hair dye and coloured fingernails are not permitted.

House captains and vice captains will remain at St Leonards in the afternoon to assist the Year 3-4 students during their carnival.

Where: St Leonards Athletic Centre

When: Wednesday, March 5 (March 6 is the Rain Day)

House Colours: Beatty – Blue, Cadorna – White, Jellico – Yellow

We hope you can come along and support this event!

Josh Leighton HPE Teacher

Our school hours are from 8:30 am through to 3:15 pm.

It is important that parents/carers do not bring children to school before school hours because there is no supervision of students at that time.

Similarly, it is important that parents/carers either collect their children at the end of the school day or arrange for them to catch the bus home or make other collection arrangements, so that students are not left unsupervised at the end of the school day.

Parents/carers are responsible for their children outside school hours unless they have accessed school-based childcare during these times.

All schools and colleges must develop and implement a sun protection policy. The Department for Education, Children and Young People recommends that all schools and colleges join the National School SunSmart Program to assist in the development of their policy. 

Over-exposure to UV (ultraviolet) rays causes sunburn, skin damage and increased risk of skin cancer. Inappropriate sun exposure in the first 18 years of life contributes significantly to the lifetime risk of developing skin cancer. 

Schools play a significant role in reducing the lifetime risk of skin cancer. Our sun protection policy has been developed to ensure that all students, staff and the school community are protected from skin damage caused by harmful UV radiation from the sun. 

Sun protection is required when UV levels are 3 and above. In Tasmania, the UV is 3 and above usually from September to April. Therefore, schools need to implement sun protection measures from the beginning of the school year until the end of April and again from the beginning of September until the end of the school year. Implementing sun protection measures throughout Terms 1 and 4 only is insufficient to protect against UV rays risks.

At MHPS we encourage the following combination of sun protection measures from September to April, when average peak UV levels in Tasmania reach 3 and above:

• Sun-safe clothing
  
• Sunscreen
• Sun-safe hats
• Shade 
• Sunglasses

The Newsletter is uploaded to our school app and website every Wednesday. Paper copies will not be printed, as is our usual practice. Please find below instructions on how to download our app.  It is most important that you read the Newsletter each week as this is our main way of communicating with families.

Our School Canteen is managed by Mrs Angela Griffiths. It is open on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday for snacks and lunch orders. Lunch orders can be made in the classroom before school or on the Qkr! app, and snacks can be purchased directly from the canteen. If families place an order using the Qkr! app, the order needs to made by 9:00 am. The Canteen Menu is available on our School app. 

Please Note: Families are asked to update their child's class on Qkr! to ensure lunches and uniform purchases arrive at the correct class.

Library bags will be given out to students during their first library lesson. Books borrowed from the library travel to and from school in this bag. Please keep all library books in this bag when they are not being read. Library bags will be collected at the end of Term 4.

Our Library Technician is Ms Angela Rose-Eadie and the teacher in the library is Mrs Sharon Rafferty.

The library is open Monday to Thursday from 8:30 am to 3:00 pm and students are welcome to exchange books on these days. They do not have to wait until their allocated class library day.

Sharon Rafferty

Everybody has a role to keep children and young people safe.  One way to do this is to ensure all members of our Mowbray community are aware of what is appropriate and expected when it comes to taking photos and videos of students.  Please know that you are welcome to take photos and videos of your own child/ren, however in line with DECYP Safeguarding expectations, sharing images of other children without permission from their parents/guardians is not permitted. 

This year you will see the poster below, displayed at school to remind everybody of this information.  At assemblies and events, you will also hear a similar message read aloud.

Thank you for helping to keep our students safe.

Janaha Williams – Safeguarding Lead

Nurse Pia is our School Health Nurse and she is here to support the health and well-being of all students, families and staff.

The School Health Nurse role involves helping students manage their health and well-being, both physically and mentally. Pia will be able to answer questions, and offer guidance and support about nutrition, bedwetting, sleep, mental health, or anything else related to health and wellbeing.  She is also able to offer vision and hearing checks for all students on request, and assist with referrals to external supports as required. 

Nurse Pia is at school on Tuesdays for appointments or phone calls. Please contact the office for referral information.

If your child has a medical condition which may require special treatment (for example asthma, allergies) your child will need a Medical Action Plan.

A plan from the Doctor and information from you is required so that we can ensure we have current and correct information. Please make sure your child's class teacher is aware of your child's condition as a priority.

Please contact the office on 6326 1892 to formalise the Medical Action Plan.  

If students require any medication whilst at school, we require a signed form from the doctor stating dose and time of medication, plus a signed form from the parent authorising the administration of medicine or tablets. These forms can be obtained from the school office. Medication must be provided in the original packaging.

The Dental Carpark is a designated carpark for people using the Dental Service. Our families are unable to park in this carpark to drop off or pick up their children. 

Invoices will be sent home to families who have not been approved for STAS in the next couple of weeks.  This composite levy covers almost everything, including learning materials, resources, equipment, excursions and performances.  It does not cover specialised activities such as the Leavers’ Dinner, cost of school photo or any other optional activity.

Families are able to choose between a single payment of the levy or they may take advantage of a range of payment options. You are most welcome to discuss your needs with Ms Tina Todman our School Business Manager (6326 1892).

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 2025 application forms are available for new enrolments, or for families who have not applied for, or been in receipt of STAS in 2024. 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 2024 have been sent correspondence regarding STAS 2025 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.