Week 10, Term 4 - 2024 Wrap-Up

Week 10 Wrap-Up

Just a quick newsletter to wrap up the 2024! As I sit here on our last day of operations for the year, I can’t help but look back and think about what another wonderful year it has been for Mudgee Public.

Wednesday marked the last school day for students of 2024, and what a week it has been! Despite the heat, our Year 6 students had a truly special farewell evening on Tuesday as they celebrated their time at primary school. It was really heartwarming, and I felt a real sense of pride as I saw the students and staff reflect on their journey and express their gratitude to the amazing staff who have guided them along the way. There were some wonderful speeches on the evening by outgoing staff member Mr Smith, as well as Year 6 student Jake Colley which embellished these messages. Year 6 Farewell Album

This week, we also wrapped up our swimming program this week, where students demonstrated their skills and had a great time splashing around down at Mudgee Pool. I had the privilege of visiting on a number of occasions and it was remarkable to see the growth and confidence of the students in such a short time. A big shout-out to our teachers and staff who made this experience so enjoyable for everyone!

Class parties on Wednesday were super fun, with K-2 heading to the Brothers 3 Pantomime and Years 3-6 enjoyed a Pizza Party. A big thanks to all who contributed to these parties.  

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Staffing Update

Mrs Nicholls: I have exciting news to share! I am pleased to announce that Karissa Nicholls has secured the Assistant Principal Curriculum Instruction position for one day a week (Fridays) at Hargraves Public School for Term 1, with the possibility of extension. Congratulations, Karissa!  We are so proud to see our staff take on higher duties, and this is a testament to Karissa’s experience and expertise as a classroom teacher. Her leadership and insights will undoubtedly benefit our school community as she takes on this new role. Karissa will remain teaching Year 1 at Mudgee Public School Mondays- Thursdays. In addition, I am happy to share that Michelle Prater will be teaching this class alongside Karissa on Fridays. Together, they will bring their unique talents and collaborative spirit to create an enriching learning environment for our students.

Mrs Seis: I would like to take a moment to inform you that Cheryl Seis, our School Administrative Manager, will be relinquishing her position effective Term 2, 2025. We are incredibly grateful for Cheryl’s amazing leadership and outstanding organisational skills during her time with us. Her dedication and commitment to our school have made a significant impact, and she will be greatly missed.

As we prepare for this transition, we will be undertaking a formal recruitment process in Term 1 to find a suitable replacement. In the meantime, Fiona Kelly will continue to relieve in the role until the recruitment process is complete. We appreciate Fiona’s willingness to step in and ensure that our administrative functions run smoothly during this time.

Thank you, Cheryl, for your hard work and commitment to the MPS community, and we wish you all the best in your future endeavours!

Meet the Teacher and 2025 Classes

One of the highlights of the week was the opportunity for students to meet their new teachers and classmates for 2025. I have included a list of classes here for next year, and I’m excited to share that each area of the school will have some fun and engaging themes to connect learning and foster inclusivity:

• K-2: Animals
• Support Unit: Colours
• Stage 2: Australian Towns/Regions
• Stage 3: Famous Australians
  

I want to reiterate and hopefully fill you with the confidence that I have, in that we take considerable time and care in placing students in these classes. There is an incredibly thorough consultation process with all staff members to ensure we listen to and consider what is best for each individual student. This process involves balancing social dynamics, academic groupings, and friendship connections to create a supportive atmosphere where every child can thrive. Our goal is to ensure that the placements reflect a well-rounded mix of students, promoting collaboration and positive relationships, while also meeting individual academic needs. As the principal, I meet with all school leaders, and I am confident that a significant amount of thought and consideration has gone into every single student placement.

There has been some discussion in and around the community around why we have composite classes here at Mudgee Public School. Essentially, the Department gives each school a class and staffing calculation based on student numbers. Composite classes are required to keep class sizes down. I want to reinforce that this decision has nothing to do with any budget issues or concerns. There are actually many benefits to having composite classes. As suggested, they provide a structure where students can benefit from more balanced class sizes, which facilitates greater personalised interaction with teachers and support staff. They encourage teachers to cater to individual learning needs, breaking away from the approach of teaching to the whole year group and instead focusing on individual student progression. Such classes offer flexibility in academic and social groupings and use progressions of learning to drive differentiated teaching in literacy and numeracy from Kindergarten to Year 6, ensuring that teaching is tailored to the individual rather than to the year group.

Moreover, composite classes can enhance individual development, with research suggesting gains in confidence, resilience and independent learning skills. They offer opportunities for older students to practice and reinforce their skills by teaching younger students, who in turn benefit from having a broader range of help available. The presence of older students can lead to quicker integration of younger students into established class routines, potentially reducing behavioural problems. In saying that, older students are not provided with the same level of learning that younger students are. Just like in all classrooms, there are a range of academic needs in every class and our focus is on differentiating the curriculum and ensuring explicit teaching takes place for all students no matter which class they are in.

The focus on achieving personal bests rather than grades can alter the nature of the learning experience, leading children to value learning and its process, and fostering respect for individual differences. Importantly, the syllabus is written in stages rather than year groups, minimising the impact on mandatory teaching and learning guidelines.

Over the Holidays

Over the holidays, there will be a few pieces of work taking place. One of our classrooms is having a ramp installed; our fixed equipment on the Primary side is undergoing a soft fall makeover to hopefully be able to weather the storm a little better, as is our K-2 sandpit. We have air-conditioning technicians in fixing up the Hall Air-Conditioners and we have concreters in fixing up some of the entries to the school as well as the driveway entry behind the kindergarten classrooms.

As we prepare for the new school year, I want to remind you that we organise all back-to-school supplies for our students. While you are more than welcome to bring your own pencil case or other supplies if you wish, please know that there is no need to do so. I firmly believe that public education should be accessible to everyone, and no one should have to pay for supplies to receive the quality education they deserve.

The uniform shop is scheduled to be open prior to students returning:

23/1, 28/1, 30/1, 4/2 - 2025

Please check our Facebook page closer to the dates for exact opening times.

Thank you for being such an integral part of our school community this year. Your support and involvement have made a real difference, and I am immensely proud of the strong connections we have within our Mudgee PS community and that starts with you, the parents! Wishing you and your families a safe and happy holiday season, and I can't wait to see everyone back in 2025!

Kind Christmas regards and cheers,

John Carters

Principal