Welcome to 2024
Principal's Welcome
I hope this newsletter finds you well and rested after a wonderful break! I thoroughly enjoyed spending time with family and friends and feel recharged ready to support your child for another year of friendship through learning. As we embark on a new school year, I am thrilled to welcome each and every one of you back to Mudgee Public School.
I am really excited as we begin this year. This school year promises to be filled with exciting opportunities for our students. From engaging classroom activities to special events, we have a fantastic lineup planned that will foster creativity, curiosity, and a love for learning. I will communicate more of these activities and events as they near closer. Our goal is to create an environment where every child feels supported, challenged, and inspired to reach their full potential and we are aiming to do this through our highly differentiated curriculum from both an academic and social lense.
I encourage you to stay connected with us throughout the year. Our teachers and staff are here to partner with you in your child's education journey. We will be holidng our meet the teacher evening on Monday 19 February but besides that, whether it's through parent-teacher interviews, school events, or regular communication, we value the collaboration between home and school to ensure the success of our students.
As we begin this new year together, let's embrace the spirit of community and cooperation. Together, we can make this school year one filled with memorable experiences and achievements for our students.
I am truly excited about the possibilities that lie ahead, and I look forward to working together to make this school year the best one yet!
Thank you for your continued support and I can't wait to see everyone tomorrow.
John Carters
Principal
First Day
As mentioned above, tomorrow, Thursday 1 February we welcome our students Years 1 – 6 back to school. In the morning, students will be moving to their new playground area and will move to their assembly area when the bell rings to go to class. Our Year 3 students, who are now primary students, will line up under the Primary COLA. From there, students will move into their anticipated classes for 2024. We say anticipated, as until we see which families may have moved on or moved into the Mudgee Public School catchment over the holidays, we won't know our exact class numbers or teacher entitlement.
Kindergarten students will join us for their first official day on Tuesday 6 February after their Best Start Assessments take place over the next 3 school days. All their information around starting and finishing times, along with Pick-Ups and Drop Offs, has been sent in a letter before Christmas and will be communicated again with Students/Parents when they arrive to complete their Best Start Assessment. If you are a Kindergarten parent and missed this information, please contact the front office. Ph 6372 2036
New Classes
The first few weeks of school is an exciting and nervous time for all children. Every effort has been made to take all factors into consideration when forming classes. With just under 600 students at our school, making new friends and socialising is a crucial life skill and one which can often only be developed with experience. When forming classes, careful consideration was given to input from staff and families as well as student learning styles and indeed their friendships. Classrooms have been balanced academically and socially. Our class lists are structured to provide equitable class sizes at each grade level. This is one of the reasons why we have opted to run an additional mainstream class above establishment. We are entitled to 20 mainstream classes, however, we are running 21 as moving students is difficult without causing imbalances and inequities. Whilst we have made efforts to transition students to their new class, it is expected that some will have trepidations about their new settings. I ask that you give all children time to settle into class and develop their own respectful relationships before raising any concerns about 2024. Of course, if you believe that concern can’t wait we ask you to contact your child’s teacher, or the relevant Assistant Principal for that stage. A full list of classes and relevant executive is below.
New Staff
We have had some new staff members join us over the holidays. Mrs Cheryle Chilcott was apponted as a permanent teacher. Mrs Chilcott was a teacher at the Grange Public School and comes with a large range of experience that will make her a valuable member of the team. At this stage, Mrs Chilcott will be teaching RFF for Stage 2 and taking on some other release across the school.
We also have received the wonderful news that Natasha Wright has been appointed as our school counsellor. Natasha has been appointed through the Department of Education's School Counsellor Training program and is really excited to be here. She will predominantly work at Mudgee PS, as well as service some other schools in the area.
We have also had the position of Wellbeing Health Inreach Nurse vacant for sometime. This is a position on secondment from NSW Health. I am pleased to announce that Melissa Cox will be working at Mudgee Public School one day per week in this role. Melissa comes from a teaching background, has a great deal of health experience and a lot of local knowledge.
I will introduce these staff members more in coming weeks but for now, please welcome them to Mudgee Public.
Mudgee Public School Podcast - Episode 5
Episode 5 of the Mudgee PS Podcast has landed. School Transitions.
For many students, transitioning from pre-school to big school, year 2 to year 3 or from primary school to high school is a major step; it can also be a monumental moment for a parent. As the new school year is upon us, episode five of The Hive - Mudgee Public School's podcast series - speaks with Occupational Therapist Rachel Disher and Mudgee Preschool's Di Bennett about school transitions. Rachel and Di provide information on how students can cope with the emotions of school transitions and the best way parents can assist in helping their child through this period.
Click on the link below to have a listen.
PBL Awards
Positive Behaviour for Learning (PBL) is a whole school program that actively promotes positive behaviour. It enables students to develop a clear understanding of required expectations, become responsible for their own behaviour and work together to create a positive, productive and harmonious learning community. Our school-wide expectations are represented with a 'Bee' mascot: Bee Safe, Bee Respectful, Bee Responsible and Bee an Active Learner.
Below is a copy of our school awards system and what students need to collect and hand in to achieve different awards. We hope this chart is of use to you and we will share this with you regularly throughout the year.
Meet the Teacher - Save the Date
Our "Meet the Teacher" Afternoon / Evening will take place next Monday 19 February. More information will be coming shortly in relation to this event, but for now, "Save the Date".
Stationary Supplies
This year, once again, we will be providing the majority of stationery for our students so there is no need to go and buy a whole heap of extra supplies. Students in Years 1-6 may like their own pencil case with the basics in it, eg pencils, rubber, sharpener, textas etc (and pens Year 4-6) but all of that will also be provided. Other than that, there may be some small supplies requested by classroom teachers in the early weeks. Kindergarten students do not need to bring anything – just their smiling selves. I am proud that we are a public school that provides all that is needed for students to access the curriciulum.
Financial Assistance
On the topic of access to the curriculum, I would like all our families to know that we do every effort to keep costs to a minimum. We often absorb part costs, or even whole costs to excursions, incursions and other activities so that all students can access learning no matter their financial situation. On top of that, I want all families to know that we always offer financial assistance, no matter how big or small. All requests for financial assistance are dealt with the strictest confidentiality. Please know that this offer is available to all families.
Stay Connected
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