SCHOOL NEWSLETTER Week 4, Term 4
Principal's Report
Game Changer Success: Mudgee Public School, and indeed myself, is absolutely bursting with pride as our talented students participated in the prestigious Game Changer Challenge and made it to the state finals in Sydney this week. This award-winning design thinking competition is open to public schools across New South Wales and focuses on discovering innovative solutions to real-world issues.
Our dedicated team, consisting of Oscar Clay, Grace Rayner, Lottie Harvey, Felix Wheatley, and Lilah Rayner, worked tirelessly to tackle the challenge of "Make the world a better place for everyone without harming the planet." Their commitment and creativity were evident as they engaged with industry experts throughout the competition, receiving invaluable feedback that helped refine their prototypes.
On the final day of the challenge, our MPS Game Changers showcased their hard work by pitching their innovative solutions to a panel of judges, including distinguished representatives from organisations like Apple, Canva, UNICEF, and Hewlett-Packard. Their enthusiasm and dedication shone through as they presented their ideas, demonstrating not only their understanding of the pressing challenges we face but also their potential to effect positive change.
We are thrilled to announce that our team was awarded the UNICEF Impact Award, a testament to their passionate efforts and creativity. This recognition is a significant achievement and highlights the impact of their project, as well as the collaborative spirit that Mudgee Public School fosters.
A heartfelt thank you goes out to the NSW Department of Education for providing our students with this incredible opportunity and for their unwavering support throughout the challenge. We are immensely proud of our Game Changer Team and look forward to seeing all that they will accomplish in the future. Remember, Oscar, Grace, Lottie, Felix, and Lilah—reach for the stars, as the sky's the limit!
Year 6 Fun Day: Our Year 6 Fun Day is just around the corner, happening next Friday, 15 November! This event is a fantastic opportunity to raise funds for our Year 6 students and their end-of-year activities, ensuring they have memorable experiences as they conclude their time at our school.
Tokens for the event are on sale every morning next week outside the library on the primary side. Each token is 50 cents, and while students can purchase multiple tokens, we recommend no more than $20 worth. Please note that students will receive their pre-purchased tokens on the day of the event to avoid any losses. Parents are warmly invited to join in the fun, and extra tokens will be available for purchase on the day.
There is also a sausage sizzle happening that can be purchased with tokens, so no need to order, but that could very well be lunch. There is no normal canteen for lunch on that day. Also, a note has gone home to all yr6 families requesting support with supplies, baking, etc. If anyone would like to assist, your contribution will be greatly appreciated. Please contact the school if you require any further information
I'm really looking forward to this day.... even the sponges that will be thrown at me!
Personalised Learning Pathways - END OF YEAR BBQ YARN & CUPPA: Friendly reminder that we are thrilled to invite our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island community to the End of Year Personalised Learning Pathways Celebration!
Join us this Wednesday, 13 November, for a delightful afternoon filled with a Sausage Sizzle and engaging Cultural Activities. Let’s come together to celebrate our students' achievements and share our hopes for 2025.
Check out the attached flyer for more details. We can’t wait to see you there!
Student Leadership Expansion: I am really excited to announce that, following strong support from our P&C and staff, Mudgee Public School will be expanding our student leadership team starting next year! This exciting initiative will enhance leadership opportunities for our students and foster a greater sense of community within our school.
Traditionally, our student leadership team has comprised 4 members: 2 captains and 2 vice-captains. In response to valuable feedback and the desire to provide more students with the chance to develop their leadership skills, we will be expanding the team to include 8 members: 2 captains, 2 vice-captains, and 4 prefects. This expansion will allow us to create a more diverse and dynamic leadership structure that reflects the talents and aspirations of our student body.
The benefits of this expansion are numerous. By increasing the number of student leaders, we aim to:
- Provide More Opportunities: More students will have the chance to take on leadership roles, helping them to build essential skills and confidence.
- High Potential Gifted Education: One of the key benefits of this initiative is its alignment with our commitment to High Potential and Gifted Education. By expanding opportunities for leadership, we are directly supporting students with high potential, particularly those who show aptitude in the social-emotional domain. Leadership roles provide these students with the chance to cultivate their skills, engage with their peers, and develop a deeper understanding of teamwork, empathy, and responsibility.
- Improved Collaboration: A larger leadership team will bring together different perspectives, fostering collaboration and innovative solutions to school challenges.
- Strengthen Peer Support: Prefects will serve as positive role models and mentors for younger students, promoting a supportive and inclusive school environment.
- Community Spirit: With more student leaders, we hope to enhance school spirit and pride, encouraging greater involvement in school initiatives and events.
To ensure that our Year 5 students are actively involved in this exciting transition, I will be meeting with them on Monday to discuss the new leadership opportunities and gather their thoughts and aspirations.
We are super excited about the positive impact this initiative will have on our students and our school community as a whole. The expanded leadership team will not only empower our students but also strengthen the bonds that make Mudgee Public School a wonderful place to learn and grow.
We look forward to sharing more details about this initiative as we approach the new school year. Thank you for your continued support, and we can’t wait to see how our students will shine in their new roles!
Attendance: Join us in congratulating KR, our Week 4 Attendance Class of the Week! 👏This week, I reviewed our unexplained absence data for the first three weeks of the term, with our ultimate goal of maintaining zero unexplained absences. Huge congratulations to classes 2M, KR, SU Orange, SU Pink, and SU Red for achieving zero unexplained absences during Week 3! A deeper look into these five classes shows their impressive Term 4 data so far (Weeks 1,2 and 3)
- 2M: 1, 0, 0
- SU Orange: 2, 1, 0
- SU Pink: 0, 1, 0
- SU Red: 0, 1, 0
- KR: 0, 0, 0
An extra round of applause to KR for maintaining zero unexplained absences over all three weeks—an outstanding achievement! Keep up the great work
Year 4 Camp: What an amazing adventure Year 4 had at their recent overnight camp in Katoomba! The excitement was palpable as students set off for a fun-filled experience that they will surely remember for years to come.
Throughout the trip, the kids took part in some fantastic activities. One of the highlights was a ride on the Scenic Railway, where they enjoyed breathtaking views of the Blue Mountains. It was a great way to connect with nature, too! The students also tried their hand at archery, showing impressive focus and determination as they aimed for the targets. Team-building activities were another hit, helping everyone strengthen friendships and work together in a fun environment. One of the determining factors of a successful overnight camp is the food and all reports were that the food was absolutely delicious. Overall, we couldn’t have asked for better behaviour from our students; they truly represented our school with pride!
A huge thank you goes out to Mrs. O'Brien for her fantastic coordination and planning, along with all the staff who joined the excursion. Your commitment to providing these experiences for our students is greatly appreciated. We also want to give a special shout-out to all the parents who helped out. Your support made a real difference and ensured everything ran smoothly.
Beginners Begins: We had a fantastic start to our Beginners program this week! Our 2025 Kindergarten friends enjoyed their time in K/1C where we read books, sang songs and participated in lots of activities. We can’t wait until next week!
School Counsellor and School Psychologist Recognition Day: Today, November 8, we celebrate School Counsellor and School Psychologist Recognition Day, and we want to take this opportunity to shine a spotlight on our incredible counselling team: Natasha Wright (School Counsellor), Julie Hanman (SCATTRS - School Counselling and Telepsychology Rural and Remote Schools) and Adelle Bungate (Senior Pscyhologist Education)
These dedicated professionals play a vital role in supporting the mental health and wellbeing of our students, families, and staff. Their work embodies this year's theme, 'Little Moments, Lasting Change.' Through their daily interactions, they create meaningful connections that help our students identify their needs and strengths, fostering resilience and personal growth.
Natasha’s unwavering commitment to student wellbeing, Adelle’s expertise as a Senior Psychologist, and Julie’s invaluable support as our remote counsellor are essential to nurturing a positive school environment. Their efforts make a significant difference in the lives of so many within our school community.
As we celebrate this important day, we encourage everyone to take a moment to acknowledge and appreciate the hard work and dedication of our counselling team. Thank you, Natasha, Adelle, and Julie, for your exceptional service. We are so lucky to have you as a part of Team MPS!
Upcoming Events: See below the info-graphic which maps out all the events over the next few weeks of school.
Have a lovely weekend and a great week ahead.
John Carters
Principal
Yr 3 & Yr 5 parent/carers - Opportunity Classes & Selective High Schools
Applications for Year 5 entry to opportunity classes and Year 7 entry to selective high schools in 2026 are now open. From this year on, the application period is at the same time and over an extended period, 7 November 2024 to 21 February 2025. The placement tests will be computer-based and held at external test centres.
Please share this information with parents/carers of children currently in Year 3 and 5.
More information about the application process and the application link is at Selective high schools and opportunity classes.
Learn more about the changes to the application process at Changes to the application process for 2026 entry.
Applications close on 21 February 2025.
2025 Student Bus Pass Applications
Applications are now open for 2025 School Student Transport Scheme (SSTS) travel New students to our school and students progressing from year 2 to year 3 and from year 6 to year 7 need to apply/re-apply for a bus pass.
Where a student meets the new distance eligibility, the system will automatically update their entitlement. If they do not meet the new eligibility, they will receive an expiry notification. Students who change address, school, campus location, have repeated a year or received an expiry notification for their school travel entitlement need to renew or update their details before the end of term 4. This will ensure that schools can endorse applications, so their travel entitlement can remain valid for the start of the 2025 school year. Students who have an entitlement approved under a medical condition that is due to expire will receive a notification advising them to re-apply. Rural and Regional Students Students living in rural and regional (R&R) areas should receive their travel pass at the start of the new school year from their nominated transport operator. It may come via the school or be sent directly to them at home. Note: some R&R operators do not issue travel passes. Students/parents should confirm with their nominated operator if they do not receive a pass.
Please see fact sheet below from Ogden’s on how to apply for a school bus pass
Principal's Awards
Congratulations to the following students on receiving a Principal Award or Deputy Principal Award in the past fortnight.
Principal Awards
KR - Zane Moynahan 2M - Arya Colley 4W - Indi Kelly, Indie Koscica, Emrie Field, Paige Perry, Tylor West, Amelia Bennett, Eden Joseph, Maddi Goodall, Xavier Campbell 6C - Chase Oakhill, Violet Smith 6S - Alannah Watson, Hamish Marks, Max Murnane, Bella Turnbull 5/6T - Zean Villamer, Grace Bungate, Oscar Clay, Grace Rayner, Lilah Rayner, Felix Wheatley, Lottie Harvey
Deputy Principal Awards
KR - Aria Pearce, Zane Moynahan 1RD - Nixon Wood, Bella Cole, Charlie Faulkner, Chase Gallagher, Chloe Cauchi K1/C - Antonios Karavas 2M - Elsie Sharp 4B - Gabrielle Fenney, Addison McDonell, Dean Crowther, Vienna Letourneau 4W - Abigail Williams, Jayden Godfrey, Sophie Dale, Rylan Bryant, Olive Smith, Violet Senior-Plachozki, Lucas Harrison, Jim McDarmont-Riley
Students of the Week
"Be in the Right Place, at the Right Time"
WEEK 3 - Term 4
INFANTS SUGREY - Jayden Hall / SUPINK - / SUORANGE - / KNH - Zaid Spurr / KO - / KR - / K/1C - Tony Karavas / 1N - Oliver Ramsland / 1RD - Bailey Spurr / 1/2S - Pippa Carters / 2E - / 2M - Indie Gilogley / 2SP - Dylan Campbell
PRIMARY SUBLUE - Aleira Cox / SUGREEN - Ross Edwards / SURED - Bug Clarke / SUYELLOW - Mason Evans / 3D - Jessica Croll / 3FM - Emelin Delph / 3S - Chase Oakenfull / 4B - Charlotte Rayner / 4O - Denver Stokes / 4W - Indie Koscica / 5H - Rhianna Del Rosario / 5HM - Addisyn Caligari / 5/6T - Zayden Stokes / 6C - / 6S - Keira Hinton
"Use the Problem-Solving Wheel to find solutions"
WEEK 4 - Term 4
INFANTS SUGREY - Tyrell Marshall / SUPINK - Busta McAuliffe / SUORANGE - / KNH - Eve Husband / KO - / KR - / K/1C - Lilly Norris / 1N - Ava Libertis / 1RD - Nina Crowe / 1/2S - Noah Kelly / 2E - / 2M - / 2SP - Pipper Sharpe
PRIMARY SUBLUE - Lockie Cox / SUGREEN - Chelsea Butler / SUORANGE - Angelo Musitano / SURED - / SUYELLOW - / 3D - Coby Denyer / 3FM - Ella Grosse / 3S - Laralee Taylor / 4B - Brody McMahon / 4O - Issy Doyle / 4W - Poppy Bannister / 5H - William Walker / 5HM - / 5/6T - Shannon Devenish / 6C - Elarah Mogg / 6S - Abigail Cooper
Library News
Book Club Issue 7 - orders should be arriving next week. They will be sent to your child's class UNLESS you have marked GIFT or, have let me know otherwise. Please call the front office if you don't want the order sent to your child's class.
Overdue Books - There are a lot of overdue books across the school at the moment. Please check your shelves at home, to ensure you don't have any MPS Library books, and return them.
Happy Reading!
Mrs Vitnell - Teacher Librarian
Office News
PARENTS / VISITORS ONSITE
Parents / Visitors that come to the school during school hours MUST report to the school office prior to visiting classrooms and indicate the reason for being onsite. For safety reasons, and in case of an emergency, you may be requested to show ID, and complete any necessary paperwork depending on the reason for your visit.
We thank you for your cooperation and understanding as we ensure the safety of all students and comply with the Department of Education policy.
PICKING YOUR CHILD UP EARLY
In the event that you have to pick your child up early, we ask that you come to the office and sign them out. You can then go to your child's classroom to collect them.
If you need to make a change to student routine at the end of the school day, we ask that you call the office by 2.30pm. A message will then be provided to your child indicating this change.
CHANGE OF STUDENT DETAILS - IMPORTANT
It is important that the school have correct student contact details in case of an emergency, including residential address, parent/carer email, phone numbers and any additional emergency contacts. If you wish to check your student details, or wish to make any changes, please phone the office for assistance.
SENTRAL FOR PARENTS PORTAL - 2024 & beyond
The Sentral for Parents Portal App allows you to pay online rather than sending cash with your child to school or coming into the office to pay in person.
It is really advantageous to have a portal account as more features will be rolled out in due course as we settle into the features that Sentral has available. Currently through the App, parents can notify the school of student absences, make online payments for excursions or incursions, and access Student Academic Reports to view and/or download.
The invoicing system may send an invoice in advance of a note coming home with your child. Please ask your child for any notes so you are fully aware of the details around the event or activity you are paying for. DO NOT pay an invoice until you have signed and returned any permission/consent forms.
As always, we are here to help if there are any issues. For further assistance with the App please visit https://www.sentral.com.au/parents
If you require an ‘Access Key’ to login, please contact the school office for assistance by phone 02 6372 2036 or email mudgee-p.school@det.nsw.edu.au .
Discover the possibilities, download the app today:
Google: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.sentral.mobile
App Store: https://apps.apple.com/ro/app/sentral-for-parents/id1238744022?mt=8
To contact the MPS Office phone - 6372 2036
Your Friendly Office Staff - "We're here to help!"
P&C Update - Canteen menu
CANTEEN HELPERS - Our Canteen requires your support!!!
Volunteers play an important role in keeping the Canteen open so if you can provide any amount of time, on any day, your assistance would be greatly appreciated. As little as an hour in the morning would be greatly beneficial and assist in keeping the canteen open 5 days a week.
No need for a qualification... please contact our Canteen manager via the school office on Ph 6372 2036
Please find below our NEW Canteen Menu
PCYC After School Care
Parent/carers wishing to access the PCYC After School Care provided at Mudgee Public School, please visit the website for further information https://pcycoosh.org.au/
or click on the link below to enrol;
https://prodadmin.myxplor.com/enrollment_v2/centre/FAMWLCTVxjaH4QZ12435694231iENg
Schoolzine App - Stay Connected
Have you followed us on Facebook? https://www.facebook.com/MudgeePublicSchool
Twitter? https://mobile.twitter.com/mudgeeps or @MudgeePS
Have you downloaded the Schoolzine App to receive all our newsletters directly? https://www.schoolzine.com/szapp-installation
Community Notices
DENTO RYU KARATE
Traditional non-contact Karate 6pm - 7pm Tuesday & Thursday
Mudgee Public School Hall $3.50 per lesson - Ages 5yrs over
For further information contact: Harvey Mb 0427 435 930
