MPS Newsletter: Term 2, Week 5 - 21st May 2021

Principal's Report

Kindergarten Transition for 2022

Is your child starting Kindergarten in 2022? Come and join us for our first 'Kinder Safari' next Wednesday 26 May. This is a chance to visit the school and see Kindergarten classes in operation. No need to book! Just meet at the main entrance to the school on Perry Street by 10am. We look forward to welcoming you! 

Furthermore, you can enrol your child for school now! Local enrolments can enrol directly online https://mudgee-p.schools.nsw.gov.au/about.../enrolment.html  Visit our school office or call on 6372 2036 for further information.

A full list of our Kindergarten Transition Dates can be seen below 

45 Years Service

You may have seen on Facebook this week, that our wonderful School Administration Manager (SAM) Judith Morton celebrated 45 years with the Department of Education. A truly remarkable milestone achieved. Mrs Morton even received a phone call from the Department's Deputy Secretary Murat Dizdar which was a pleasant surprise; however, the nicest acknowledgement came through all the lovely comments on our Social Media Page. On behalf of Jude, thanks for all the lovely comments! 

My Long Service Leave

For two weeks from next Wednesday 26 May, I will be taking Long Service Leave. I will return to school on Wednesday 9 June. Whilst I'm away the following relieving executive structures will be in place:

Relieving Principal: Ros Rogers

Relieving Deputy Principal (K-2): Mel Shearman

Relieving Assistant Principal (Stage 1): Tamara Hargraves

Year 4 Red Hill EEC Excursion

Throughout this week, Year 4 students from the Support Unit, 4B, 4D, 4E and 4T enjoyed a jam-packed day of activities at Red Hill Environmental Education Centre, Gulgong. Students were told the history of Gulgong and the people who were around during the Gold Rush. They enjoyed seeing their classmates dress up while Karen told us about the men and women of the past.

The students found out how strict it was in 1870 and then dressed in period costumes as school students. Handwriting was done on a small chalkboard, then they tried their hand at using a quill and ink. Next, the boys tied knots while the girls tried their hand at needlework. It was a bit tricky! They played some old fashioned games and tried hard not to fall over in the sacks.

Everyone enjoyed making scones and churning the cream to turn it into butter. It certainly gave their arms a workout! Then had to use wooden paddles to form the butter into rolls. This was not as easy as it sounded. To finish off the session they ate scones with butter and jam. Delicious!

After lunch, a walk to the museum to participate in a treasure hunt. Students enjoyed looking for the different items and taking a photos with the iPads working in teams of 3 or 4.

What a fabulous day of learning! (More photos coming soon and on the MPS Facebook site) 

Celebrate Canteen Week

Next week is "Celebrate Canteen Week” to recognise the work of volunteers and staff in school canteens. How lucky are we that we have such a fabulous canteen team led by Tracey Cameron and supported by Jemma Williams. These ladies are simply fantastic, but we also wouldn't survive without the service of our volunteers (the regulars, as well as the one off volunteers). Please get behind the initiative of recognising not just the time that all these people put in, but also the effort they put in to making our canteen so amazing... Best in the Central West no doubt!

Weeks 6 and 7, Term 2

• "Better Not Litter" program (All classes) Mon 24- Fri 28 May   
  
• Riding for the disabled - Wednesday 26 May 
• Kinder Safari No1 - Wednesday 26 May, 10am
• PSSA Basketball Knockout - Thursday 27 May
• Netball NSW Schools Gala Day, Dubbo - Thursday 27 May
• Girls / Boys Cricket vs Dubbo in Mudgee - Friday 28 May
•  Riding for the disabled - Wednesday 2 June
• Rugby Knockout Gala Day - Wednesday 2 June
• Soccer Knockout Boys and Girls - Friday 4 June

A beautiful moment captured by one of our MPS parents... "Thank you!" 

I wanted to share this with you, as it brings happy tears to my eyes just talking about it...

Last week at the Mudgee Dragons under 5/6’s game, Angus Berry presented Bug Clarke with his very own “named” Mudgee Dragons jersey and titled him their ball/water boy! Go Bug!!!

Lachie Taylor's (who I know is MPS Perry vice sports captain) brother plays in the same grade, so Lachie is often there too. Lachie was not only there in support of his brother, but he played on the side line with Bug the whole time and when it came time for Bug to take the tee onto the field (as the newly named ball/water boy for kick off) he went with him and showed him what to do, stood beside him and then helped him off the field again with the tee. Lachie was never asked to do any of these things!

It was so comforting to watch and Sally Taylor (mum and cracking photographer) captured it all beautifully. A huge shout out to a great kid, Lachie Taylor, for being so thoughtful and helping out another kid!

Mr Carters
Principal

Principal and Deputy Principal Awards

Congratulations to the following students who have received a Principal and/or Deputy Principal Award over the last fortnight. Below: JC - Logan Blair,  Brodie Speechley & Mr Carters :) 

Students of the Weeks

Congratulations to these students who have been recognised as "Student of the Week" over the last fortnight. Please join us in ackowledging their efforts and contribution.

Sports Update

Boys' and Girls' Softball Knockout Competition - Earlier in the term I was lucky enough to coach two wonderful softball teams. Both the boys' and the girls' teams played three games in a knockout tournament in Orange. The girls unfortunately lost their second round game, but with most of them never having put on a glove before, I was so proud of how well they played and worked together on the day. The boys won all three games on the day, taking out the title of Western Region Boys Softball Champions for 2021! Not many of the boys had played before either, but you wouldn't know it if you watched them play. They were OUTSTANDING! Three of the boys, Lachie W, Hunter M and Nate T were also selected for the Western team. A huge thank you to Mick Boller who trained and coached both teams in the lead up to their games. Well done, kids. I am so proud of all of you!

Megan Cowan - Stage 2 Classroom Teacher

Highlights

Western Debating  

On Wednesday our Mudgee team competed in the first round of the Kerrie Parkes Debating Competition against CVPS. The topic was, That all students should play sport out of school hours, MPS were the negative.

The team members were Alice Macdonald, Lachlan Williams, Dean Jarvis and Piper Etherington. 

After displaying great rebuttal skills MPS were awarded Winners! Congratulations on your first debating experience.

On Monday MPS team will travel to Coolah to debate. The Team members are from Year 5 and we wish them all the best as they represent MPS in their first debate.

Mrs Lynda Baddock - Coordinator  

Western Rock Camp 2021

From Sunday 25th April to Friday 30th April, 2021, Jackson O'Brien attended the Western Rock Camp coordinated by Mrs Liesel Meers. 

The camp was held at Ridgecrest Convention Centre, near Burrendong Dam, Mumbil. Jackson joined a group of 34 students from 15 different rural schools. 

Whilst on camp the students attending worked with musicians from the rock band, Feytalistic, with members from Mudgee and Sydney. The students were formed into 5 bands and were given 3 or 4 songs each to work on for the week. An acoustic guitar group was also formed and guided by Mr Brodie McKnight, a Music teacher from The Henry Lawson High School. At the end of the camp the students performed in a one and a half hour concert which showcased the students musical talent and absolutely wowed the parents.  

Well Done Jackson!! You performed amazingly!!

Library News

PRC -  Congratulations! to the 14 students who have finished their PRC. Their names are now on the 'PRC Tree' wall of fame. A reminder to everyone taking part: Students in K-2 must read 30 books, Year 3-4 and 5-6 must read 20 books. Reading lists can be given to me in the Library once completed, or parents/students can enter the books online using student's school login details. More information and reading rules can be found at: https://online.det.nsw.edu.au/prc/home.html. All students who complete the challenge will have their name displayed on the 'PRC Tree' in the Library as well as receiving a certificate in Term 4. The challenge finishes on Friday August 20th. 

Book Club - Issue 4 brochures are being sent home this week. All online and cash orders must be completed by Friday June 11th. This is Week 8. No late orders can be accepted as they may not arrive in time for the school holidays.  

NSS - The annual National Simultaneous Storytime took place on Wednesday 19th May. This is an event where over 1 million students read the same book at the same time. The Book this year was 'Give me Some Space' by Philip Bunting. This year it was read by Astronaut Shannon Walker and she read it from the ISS! It was a lot of fun seeing a book read from space. Students have been able to listen to this book all week. 

Happy Reading! ​                     

Siobhan Vitnell - Teacher Librarian

Class Spotlight -5/6M

5/6M held The Biggest Morning Tea on 6th May, with beautiful treats delivered by the children.  A large group of parents, relatives and friends came to visit our classroom on the day and enjoyed morning tea. Donations from the day raised $560 for cancer research.​  The classroom was specially decorated in pink for the morning, with students demonstrating proud and responsible behaviour to welcome visitors. 

Mrs McRae and Mrs Baddock - Class Teachers

Class Spotlight - KN

It’s not long over 60 days of Kindergarten for KN! You’d be amazed at all the things they have learnt since the beginning of the year and how much they love learning something new!

This week, KN have finished learning how to read and write ALL the sounds of the alphabet. They’ve also been working hard on learning ‘Heart Words’ (sight words). I’m so proud of their excitement at being able to use these skills in Reading and Writing lessons.

This term, KN have been learning about teen numbers in Maths and how to read, write, count forwards and backwards. The Year 6 Buddies are a great help with this each Tuesday. KN have also been enjoying creating picture graphs.  

Science has been a blast with Mrs Neil. KN have been investigating what things are made from. They have had to use their senses to explore lots of different textures.

News has been an enjoyable event this week with students asked to show and discuss their favourite book. News time is always one of the highlights of their day.

Last week, KN had some fun in Art by using Autumn leaves to make some interesting creations on the ground. There was some excellent teamwork happening!

Mrs Nicholls - Class Teacher

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P&C - Winter Uniforms

The chilly mornings are here. The uniform shop has beanies,  scarves and all your winter apparel available. Drop in Wednesday afternoons  between 2.30pm & 3.30pm or place your order online and it will be delivered to your child's classroom. https://www.quickcliq.com.au/default.aspx

Collection for Equipment

Do you throw away hundreds of bread bags and tags every year? You can support the school, and a great cause, by sending your bags and tags to school for recycling.

Mudgee Public School Breakfast Club coordinators are requesting your support to collect BREAD BAGS until 25th June 2021! (See below). Bring your bread bags to Breakfast Club in the mornings at the hall or you can be deposit them in a collection box at the front office. As a registered school with Wonder Recycling Rewards our recycling efforts will earn the school rewards points to redeem NEW sports equipment from RHSports.  

ALL BREAD TAGS will be collected and go to support a company called Aussie Bread Tags for Wheelchairs. The plastic is recycled in SA to supply wheelchairs in South Africa. Click on the link below to see more about this great cause  https://ozbreadtagsforwheelchairs.org.au/  Collection boxes are available at breakfast club and in the front office to deposit your tags.  

MPS Community Liaison Officer News

Maggie in Mudgee

We were so excited to have our long-awaited visit from Maggie Dent last Friday night! as expected, Maggie was warm and personable and so practical in her advice about parenting from her book Mothering Boys. Thanks to all who were able to join us for the rescheduled date. We look forward to being able to invite you along to another presentation soon. 

Mudgee Newbees - Have you visited our new community  playgroup yet? Come along on Thursday afternoons from 2.30pm in the Kitchen Garden for songs, stories and craft - and lots of garden fun! All our families are welcome - there's no age limit - it's a great way to meet other families who will be on the school journey with you. Don't forget your hat and water bottle!

Liz Halbisch - Community Liaison Officer

Community News