Message from Sally
Finally the Com. furniture has arrived!
Last Tuesday there was great excitement as the Year 4 Com. furniture was delivered and installed. As was explained at the Forum the positioning of the furniture is an ‘ongoing and fluid’ process.
At the end of Term 1 we were most fortunate to have a visit from the most highly regarded Professor Stephen Heppell; http://www.heppell.net/ (it is worth a browse through his website) He is an expert in the field of space, design and innovation and was most impressed with our leaning spaces. He offered many suggestions about the use of our spaces and was the inspiration for the focus of this year’s Renovation Rumble to be ‘mathematics outside’!
Traffic & School Drop-Offs/Kiss & Drop Zone
The City of Melbourne has painted a Yellow rectangle on the Murphy street side of our school; this is a NO PARKING zone; you are expected to drive as far as you can towards the end of the yellow rectangle.
How to use Kiss & Drop Zone:
- STOP AND GET YOUR CHILDREN OUT
- GIVE THEM THEIR BAGS
- KISS/HUG THEM GOODBYE
- LET THEM GO IN
- AND YOU LEAVE
This is a new regulation and I am aware many families were not aware of the change, but you are not permitted to park in this zone, like at the airport and if we need some helpful security guards (like at the airport) to ensure the Kiss & Drop zone is being used appropriately, I’m sure we can find them (I’ve had a few offers already).
School Dress Code
It is important that our students wear appropriate clothing to school for their comfort and for safety. It is very useful to dress them for all weather types, it is Melbourne– four seasons in one day! Last week it was not raining but there was some light drizzle and we felt it appropriate for the students to get out and have a run around; but so few had a jacket or coat.
If I thought of all the jackets and coats that have been given to the Opp. Shop over the years from lost property I can understand why you don’t send them to school; but they need one. Even a little ‘fold up slicker’ would be handy.
Lost Property Sorting Volunteers
As student numbers have increased the JOB of sorting out lost property is getting beyond us; there were some wonderful volunteers last year helping with second hand uniform, I wonder if a small group of parents might like to take on ‘lost property’ as a little project?
Please let Sandra or Sally know if you are interested.
Biz-E-Kidz
The Biz e Kidz Program has been one of our greatest assets as it has grown and developed over the last 15 years. It has continued to grow exponentially as student numbers have increased. However, we are at a stage where it is becoming increasing difficult to allocate spaces for the program to continue to offer the outstanding opportunities for children that it is renowned for.
School Council Report
The committee met this week and have endorsed the following proposals.
- There will be no excursions during this holiday program it will be a ‘wonderful-winter incursion-only program’.
- By the end of May the Prep program will return to the main Biz-E-Kidz building. We believe that the role models of Year 1 & 2 students will be beneficial for the Preps, and give them greater engaging opportunities.
- The year 3,4,5,6 Biz-E-Kidz after school program will move to be coordinated from the downstairs Flex. They will still use the oval and grass-ketball and footsal courts. However they will sign in and be dismissed form the downstairs Flex. This will also provide greater opportunities for Homework Club and technology opportunities.
- The committee are also concerned that the ongoing growth is not sustainable and will investigate future enrolment reductions; to this end it is highly unlikely that there will be any before or after school spaces available for new NMPS families in 2017.
Megan Cusack is the convenor of the new SC communication sub-committee. In consultation she has developed a survey to seek data around our current processes of communication. The link will be provided as soon as it is online via tiqbiz and on the website.
ANZAC Day Assembly
NMPS Cross Country Runners - we're off to the Division Finals
Congratulations to our Cross Country team and thanks to all involved in their training. Many of them will move on to the Divisional championships. Also thank you to Lucy and her team for organising the thoughtful ANZAC DAY ceremony.
