Mentone Park Primary School acknowledges the Bunurong people of the Kulin Nation as the Traditional Owners of the land on which we learn and play.

We value Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander history and cultures’ and recognise their connection to lands, waters and communities.

We pay our respects to Elders past, present and emerging.

Dear MPPS Community, 

As we approach the final days of Term 3, we have been reflecting on what has been such a successful and action-packed term for Mentone Park Primary School! 

We have celebrated together through numerous special events that have brought joy and fun to our school community. From our wonderful PFA who have ran the Trivia Night and the Father's Day/Special Friends breakfast and soccer match.  

We also took important moments to focus on wellbeing and kindness, observing National Day Against Bullying and R U OK? Day, reinforcing our commitment to creating a safe and supportive environment for everyone. 

A particular highlight this term has been the incredible range of educational excursions our dedicated teachers planned and delivered for every single class. These hands-on learning experiences have enriched our students' education. Thank you to our wonderful parent volunteers who generously gave their time to make these excursions possible. 

This Saturday we have our working bee from 9am-11am. Whether you can spare 30 minutes or the full two hours, we warmly welcome your participation. Please bring along shovels, gardening tools, and any other useful equipment! 

I want to acknowledge and thank those families who have already completed the Department's Parent/Carer Opinion Survey. This valuable feedback opportunity closes on Friday, 19th September, and your insights will influence how we assess our achievements and shape our future planning. Your voice matters. 

Looking ahead to Term 4, we are preparing for some significant and memorable moments of our school year. Our Foundation 2026 transition program will commence, welcoming our newest families into our MPPS community, while our Grade 6 students will begin their graduation preparations.  

I remain grateful for the support and trust our community places in our school. Term 4 promises to be a good one! 

Leisa 

Dear Parents, Guardians & Caregivers, 

I hope you are all well and your children are looking forward to the upcoming school holidays! 

Our MPPS Instructional Model 

As I foreshadowed in my previous newsletter piece, on Wednesday 3rd of September during our Staff PL Day we launched our new MPPS Instructional Model! 

ES staff, Teachers and Leaders spent valuable time reflecting upon their current practice and contribution to each of what we are referring to as the 4 E’s: Environment, Encouragement, Efficiency and Engagement. The 4 E’s are the pillars ever-present in MPPS classrooms. They provide students and staff with the necessary preconditions, methods for interacting, high expectations and engagement norms to both optimise and enjoy learning and teaching. When these are explicitly considered and consistently applied, they directly support and enhance the sequence of learning and teaching. 

Staff then focused on the Daily Review component on our MPPS Instructional Model. This involved us all participating in a mock Daily Review, to experience things from a student’s perspective. We then viewed some video clips of Daily Reviews from other school settings to identify similarities and differences to the way in which this important component of a lesson is implemented here at MPPS. We explored the research and theory behind Daily Reviews, namely spaced retrieval and activating prior knowledge. Staff then split into smaller groups to identify the areas of Daily Review, as detailed in our new MPPS Instructional Model, that need addressing to both enhance the effectiveness of this crucial component of a lesson as well as to ensure that we are all consistently implementing Daily Review across the school. 

This week during staff meetings, we focused on Learning Objectives/Success Criteria and Optimal Pace (which is located under Efficiency in our Instructional Model). We spent time learning about the structure and purpose of Learning Objectives and Success Criteria. We reviewed exemplars of both components as well as non-examples, to assist us in auditing and enhancing our current Learning Objectives and Success Criteria. To further explore Optimal Pace, we read through a chapter from Doug Lemov’s Teach Like A Champion on Improving Your Pacing. Staff reviewed one of the six techniques provided in this chapter in pairs and then summarized and shared their strategy with the room. It was fantastic to see several staff utilizing these strategies the very next day in class! 

As previously communicated, it is our intention to continue to unpack our new Instructional Model throughout the remainder of this year and next year. This will include the development of a supporting Staff Playbook that will provide staff with greater clarity and further information about each component of our Instructional Model. This will aid consistency and ensure that any new or temporary staff members are more easily able to upskill and align their practice to the high standards expected here at Mentone Park Primary School. 

Parkdale Secondary College Visit 

On Thursday 4/9, Mel Gibson (3/4G classroom teacher and our High-ability Practice Leader) had the pleasure of attending PSC for the morning. During our visit, which included several other local Primary Schools, we were taken on a school tour by two MPPS alumni, Arico (Ricky) Wooden and William Sampieri. We completed classroom observations of several Mathematics and English lessons. We then came together to discuss the similarities and differences between our Primary and their Secondary lessons. This was an invaluable opportunity to learn from one another and identify methods for improving the transition for students from Grade 6 into Year 7. We also collectively celebrated some outstanding Year 7 NAPLAN data from current PSC students, many of which had transitioned from Primary Schools represented in the room – MPPS included. We look forward to further opportunities to welcome staff from PSC into MPPS and vice versa in the future; to complete learning walks, classroom observations and collaborate generally on learning and teaching! 

Last Day of Term 3 

In alignment with our scheduling of previous last days of term, this Friday 19th of September (the last day of Term 3) students will be dismissed at 2:30pm. This will involve normal Friday morning and middle sessions, but we will then shortened lunch time (1:30-2pm) and then after lunch time move straight into Assembly, from 2-2:30pm. Students will then be dismissed directly from Assembly at 2:30pm. As always, we welcome all members of our MPPS community to attend Assembly whenever possible! 

Yours sincerely, 

Nathan Hutchins 

Assistant Principal 

Important Dates

In the Spotlight / Overview:

Prep students have had a wonderful fortnight full of exciting experiences! They thoroughly enjoyed their visit to the Duck Park with their buddies, where they explored and learned about how the Mentone Racecourse Reserve has changed over time. It was a fantastic opportunity to connect history with their local environment while having fun together. We also loved celebrating our dads and special friends at the Father’s Day / Special Friends Breakfast. Swimming has been a great success so far, with students growing in confidence each session. 

Heads Up!

Swimming 

Swimming will continue daily until Thursday 18th September. Students are reminded to wear their bathers under their school uniform and bring a swimming bag with a towel, underwear, goggles, slides/thongs, and a plastic bag. Swimming caps are optional. While we don’t need parent helpers, families are welcome to come and watch. Please remember that photos cannot be taken at the pool. Thank you for helping us keep all children safe and comfortable. 

Last day of Term 3 

A reminder that the last day of Term 3 is Friday 19th September and students will be dismissed at 2:30pm. The first day of Term 4 is Monday 6th October. 

Literacy: We have been learning to read and spell words with ‘ch’, as well as learning a new sound /v/ with the help of ‘Vera Vulture’. In Writing, students have been working hard to complete sentence stems ending in the conjunctions ‘but’ or ‘because’.

Numeracy: We are learning to compare and predict the capacity of containers by pouring and using words like full, half full, and empty.

Inquiry: We visited a local historical site and explored how it has changed over time.

Wellbeing: We are learning to recognise and express our emotions, understand what happens if we don’t, and practise mindfulness through movement.

Recognising TIER Role Models

Rain V

Finn V
 
Max L

Jack W

Important Dates

In the Spotlight / Overview:

Last week, our students had a fantastic time at the Melbourne Museum, where they explored everything from dinosaur bones to bugs, and even took part in a forest gallery walk. They learned about how things have changed over time and had fun comparing the past to the present. The Special Friends/Father’s Day breakfast was a big hit, especially with the kids vs. dads/special friends soccer match! Swimming has been amazing – a great way to improve skills, boost confidence, and have fun together. The Body Safe program has sparked valuable conversations and been a great learning experience for all. 

Heads Up!

Handwriting Books 

Today your child will come home with their Handwriting book. This book can now stay at home and can be used to practise their handwriting skills as an optional home task. After reviewing our handwriting program, we will now use an evidence-based approach. This includes having mini handwriting sessions four times a week and focusing on multiple letters at a time that follow the same orientation and formation. We are seeing great improvement in their handwriting skills, and we hope you are too.  

Label, Label, Label 

Please ensure all jumpers and containers are clearly named to ensure they are returned to their rightful owner and do not end up in Lost Property. 

Literacy: We are learning to recognise the features of and write our own haiku poems.  

InitiaLit: 

• Year 1s: ‘-y’ and ‘-ey’ as in ‘baby’ and ‘monkey’. Adding the suffix ‘y’ to create adjectives. Tricky words including kind, find and thought. Our storybook has been ‘A Library Book For Bear’ by Bonny Becker, with the WOW words: dreadful, delightful and commanded.  

• Year 2s: We have been learning about two-syllable words, compound words and words beginning with the prefix ‘re’ (replay). We have also been using the comprehension strategies of ‘finding the main idea’ and ‘summarising’. Our storybook has been ‘The True Story of the Three Little Pigs!’ by Jon Scieszka with the WOW words: bright, awfully and impolite.     

Numeracy: We are learning to explore concepts of time, such as duration, how many days in each month and how to read an analogue clock. 

Inquiry (History): We are learning to explore what school was like in the past and how it is different from today. 

Wellbeing: We are learning express gratitude to members of the school community. 

Recognising TIER Role Models

Nash B for working hard in Maths this week, especially when solving addition and subtraction problems using counters and mental strategies. Keep up the great work!

Zara S for her clever experimentation with rhyming couplets when writing a wonderful poem about huskies!

Aman for always participating in class discussions, giving his best in every task and for being a wonderful friend! 

Caitlin W for her enthusiasm to learn new things and willingness to ask amazing questions on our excursion at the Museum.

Nia K for exploring with curiosity and excitement, asking thoughtful questions, and embracing learning during our Melbourne Museum excursion.

Evie G for listening carefully, following instructions, and showing great enthusiasm for learning on our excursion to the Melbourne Museum. 

Important Dates

In the Spotlight / Overview:

Students have been participating in the Body Safe incursions over the past few weeks, with the final session taking place this Friday. During these sessions, students have been learning about how we are similar and different to each other and having a positive inner voice that focuses on our personal strengths. 

The Father’s Day breakfast was a great success! It was lovely to see so many dads enjoying their breakfast in the sun with their children! 

The swimming program began this week and will run until next Thursday.   

Heads Up!

We have a working bee coming up this Saturday morning. This is a great chance to get involved, meet other families, and help create a safe and beautiful space for our students. Kids are welcome to join in, and there will be Zooper Doopers at the end as a thank you! 

The last day of term is fast approaching! Just a friendly reminder that students will be dismissed at 2:30pm on Friday 19th September. 

In the first week of Term 4, students will attend Angahook camp from Wednesday 8th to Friday 10th October. They are getting very excited and have already asked many questions! Please note that we have uploaded a social story with information about what will occur on camp, and while we have shown this in the classroom, it may be worth sitting down with your child and going through it again, particularly for any first-timers on a camp! 

Literacy: We are learning about soft ‘c’ making /s/ and soft ‘g’ making /j/, as well as suffix ‘ion’ at the end of words like ‘action’. We are also looking forward to watching the ‘Charlotte’s Web’ movie on the last day of term to celebrate finishing our novel study.

Numeracy: We have been learning about decimals and representing them on decimats and number lines. We have been writing tenths and hundredths as decimals and using unit value to show their expanded form.

Inquiry: Students have chosen a cultural celebration or an Australian commemoration to investigate. They will create a project from the information they research then present it to the class.

Wellbeing: We are learning to recognise our similarities and differences and to develop a positive inner voice that focuses on our personal strengths.

Recognising TIER Role Models

Congratulations to our most recent TIER Role Models! 

Myra M – For displaying excellence and focus when learning about decimals and representing them on decimats and number lines.

Liv S – For her fantastic effort and growing confidence in representing tenths and hundredths on number lines and decimats. 

Edward GM – for his effort and confidence in renaming hundredths as tenths in decimal format, completing his tasks to a high standard. 

Savannah B – For demonstrating a strong understanding of renaming hundredths as tenths and adding decimals using a decimat. 

Important Dates

In the Spotlight / Overview:

The stories and the struggles of the immigrants coming to Australia were very confronting and sad. One of the stories we learnt on our visit to the Immigration Museum was Setsutaro Hasegawa who came from Japan to work in Australia. At the time he decided to leave, he only took some important items like his dairy and a Japanese to English dictionary. He lived here for many years before WW2, only then to be documented as an enemy alien. We also got to understand the story of Katerina Sengov who originally came from Ukraine. Leaving for a better lifestyle because of lack of education and job opportunities, she decided to bring a book and a traditional Ukrainian plate to remember her home country. Another inspiring story was about a girl named Rebbca Greaves who fled from England in the late 1850s to join the gold rush. However, she wasn’t allowed to mine because she was a woman so to overcome that she dressed up as a boy and wrote a letter to her uncle about the conditions. This museum really showed us the struggles of all immigrants and how lucky we are.  

- Misha & Zoe (reflecting on our excursion to the Immigration Museum) 

Heads Up!

End of Term 3/Start of Term 4 - As another busy term concludes (19/9/25 at 2:30pm), we begin looking ahead to a very exciting and busy final term for 2025. Communications will begin coming home soon regarding the following: 

• Yr 6 - Graduation, celebrating all of their achievements here at MPPS and transitioning to Secondary School. 

• Yr 5 -  Preparing for their final year at MPPS, including 2026 Gradwear and leadership roles. 

Health - We have a student returned to school whose immune system is currently compromised due to medical treatment. We know our school community values care, compassion, and looking out for one another — and this is one of those moments where we can all make a difference. We kindly ask that you keep your child at home if they are unwell. If your child/ren are diagnosed with chickenpox or measles this must be reported to the general office as soon as possible.

Literacy:Read and respond to our class novel, Then by Morris Gleitzman. Plan and draft a body paragraph for an information report that includes a topic sentence, supporting detail and a concluding sentence.

Numeracy: Add and subtract fractions with denominators that are the same or related. 

Inquiry: Exploring defining moments in Australian history since Federation, in particular the experiences of First Nations People and Migrants.

Wellbeing: Understand the importance of positive self-talk.

Recognising TIER Role Models

Micah C for demonstrating TEAMWORK in our group projects across maths and inquiry throughout the term.

Matilda H for demonstrating RESPECT to all our incursion visitors throughout the term, she has shown excellent manners and been a positive role model to others in the class.

Asha C for demonstrating EXCELLENCE in maths by plotting coordinates in all four quadrants of a Cartesian Plane and joining them to create a shape.

Kat A for achieving EXCELLENCE in her post test on location and plotting on Cartesian Planes. Your persistence scored you a great result. Never doubt yourself!

In Auslan, we continue our learning of a range of different foods including lunch, dinner and drinks/sweets.

Students in Foundation to Grade 2, have focused on signing “I buy…” sentences including “I buy bananas” or “I buy yoghurt”, we have expanded that into including numbers, for example “I buy 5 bananas”  We look forward to putting our signs into practice by role playing shops and learning how to sign “I want….” sentences.

Students in Grade 3 to 6 have been exploring “Dinner Table Syndrome” and what does this mean.  Dinner Table Syndrome is the challenges a Deaf or Hard of Hearing person has when enjoying dinner with a group of hearing people.  We discussed how we can be more inclusive during meal times if there was a Deaf or Hard of Hearing Person sitting with us, some of the things we discussed including learning to sign Auslan, using Constructive Action or Depicting Signs to communicate, writing or using mobile phones and positioning self so the Deaf or Hard of Hearing Person can see. Students will be designing a poster to demonstrate how we can be more inclusive at the dinner table during our final lesson in term 3.

We would love to see students practice their signing during the holidays especially when they head to the supermarket, encourage them to teach you a sign or two.

Recognising TIER Role Models

Arlo JVW for demonstrating excellence with signing a range of fruits in Auslan. Well done

District Athletics 

Last week students from Years 3-6 participated in the District Athletics carnival against other schools. Congratulations to all of those involved, it was great to see everyone trying their best and most importantly having fun! Congratulations to Mackenzie Owens who came first in the 1500m track event and progressed to the District competition to be held in October, you’re a star! 

Foundation – Year 2 (F–2) 

This term students have been learning the basics of AFL football, focusing on movement skills such as kicking, handballing and catching. They are developing coordination and teamwork by practising these skills in fun games that build confidence and enjoyment of physical activity. 

Year 3/4 

In Years 3 and 4, students are extending their AFL skills by practising accurate kicking, marking and handballing through small-sided games. They are also learning about fair play, positions on the field and how to work together effectively in a team environment. 

Year 5/6 

Our senior students are applying their AFL skills in game scenarios, focusing on strategy, decision-making and positional play. They are learning how to combine movement skills with tactics while demonstrating respect, sportsmanship and responsibility on and off the field. 

F-6 

All year levels have also begun learning the foundations for gymnastics and will continue to do so next week. 

In the Spotlight / Overview:

Our Foundation students are finishing this terms unit with lessons about our solar system. We read "There's No Place Like Space" by Tish Rabe and students shared an amazing range of facts they already knew about space. Our creative students then painted paper plates representing a planet of their choice.  

Our 1/2 students also got creative and tapped into their imagination by creating their own planets. Students named their planet, decided on what it was made of, how ,many moons it had and if there was any lifeform on their planet. They then used a variety of crafts to decorate an outline of their planet.  

If you have boxes (various sizes), cardboard tubes, foil, excess paper plates, paper cups, coloured paper, ribbon or other useful recycled or unwanted materials to donate for future projects, we will happily accept them in the STEAM room for design work. 

Recognising TIER Role Models

Tate F and James C for their innovative planning of a tsunami-proof house. Great teamwork! 

Dear Mentone Park families, 

This fortnight, our wellbeing focus was on connection and care, inspired by R U OK? Day, which we recognised on Thursday 12th September. R U OK? Day is a national initiative that reminds us of the power of asking a simple question, “Are you OK?, and taking the time to really listen to the answer. 

To help mark the day, students wore a touch of yellow with their school uniform (such as a ribbon, socks, scrunchie, or t-shirt). Yellow, the colour of hope and positivity, helped us show as a community that every voice and every feeling matters. 

Throughout the week, students also took part in age-appropriate classroom activities and discussions about kindness, empathy, and the importance of checking in with one another. These activities supported children to recognise their own emotions, practise listening skills, and understand that reaching out for help is always a sign of strength. 

Importantly, we reminded students that asking “Are you OK?” is not something we only do once a year. Checking in on our friends, family, and even ourselves is something we can practise every day. Small, caring conversations can make a big difference, and it’s often the follow-up and ongoing support that matters most. 

We also reminded students that if they are not OK, there are many trusted people and services they can turn to. At school, this includes their classroom teacher, and our entire leadership team. Beyond school, services such as Kids Helpline (1800 55 1800) and Beyond Blue (1300 22 4636) are available anytime for children, young people, and families who need extra support.  

Kids Helpline is especially valuable because children and young people can choose how they want to connect. They can: 

• Call 1800 55 1800 anytime, 24/7. 

• Use the Kids Helpline WebChat service (via kidshelpline.com.au) to type and chat with a trained counsellor if they prefer writing instead of talking on the phone. 

• Know that both options are safe, private, and free. 

It was a privilege to provide these opportunities for our students to grow in compassion and confidence, knowing that their words and actions can make a real difference in someone else’s day. 

This Fortnight’s Wellbeing at Home Activity: “Check-In Moments” 

As a family, you might like to continue creating a simple routine for checking in with each other: 

• Choose a time each day (such as dinner or bedtime) to ask, “How are you feeling today?” 

• Encourage each person to share a high point and a challenge from their day. 

• Practise active listening; give each family member your full attention, without interruption. 

• If someone shares a worry, talk about small ways you could support or encourage them. 

Reflect together: 

• How does it feel to have someone really listen to you? 

• Why is it important to notice when someone might not be OK? 

• What could we do to bring more moments of kindness into our family and community? 

By continuing these small but powerful check-ins at home, you are reinforcing the R U OK? Day message: that we all have a role to play in supporting the wellbeing of those around us, everyday not just once a year! 

Warm regards, 
Pamela Kousis 
Student Wellbeing Coordinator 

 
We’d love to see as many families as possible join us for our Working Bee this Saturday 13th September, 9:00am – 11:00am.

Please meet under the Prep Shelter at 9am sharp, where our amazing Building & Grounds volunteers, Monica and Vicki, will get everyone started with the priority jobs for the morning.

Bring the kids – they can pitch in too, and of course, there’ll be super doopers at the end as a reward!

Even if you can only spare half an hour, your time and energy will make a HUGE difference in helping us create a safe, welcoming, and beautiful school environment for our students.

Don’t forget to bring along:

• Sunscreen & hat (if the sun comes out!)
• Water bottle
• Any tools you can (clearly labelled: shovels, wheelbarrows, buckets, rakes, hedge trimmers, gloves, secateurs, bow saws).

Let’s roll up our sleeves, have some fun, and make a real impact together. Every little bit counts!

TERM 4 - UPCOMING 

School Choir – Opening to All Year Levels Next Term

We are very excited to announce that next term our Choir will be open to all year levels Prep–Grade 6 in conjunction with Poco Music!

This is a wonderful opportunity for students to develop their confidence, teamwork, and love of music and perform at the end of year Carols on the Green!

To keep consistency for our choir teacher, Brad, we ask that students commit to the program once they join. If a child wishes to withdraw from choir, they will need to:

1. Speak directly with Miss Febbaro, and

2. Provide written permission from a parent/guardian.

This ensures the best experience for both our students and our instructor.

Please ask your child to sign up at the office before Friday 19th September.

We look forward to seeing many of our students’ voices come together in harmony next term! 

Exciting News – Dance is Coming to MPPS in Term 4! 

After such a huge response, we are thrilled to announce that Dance Classes will be running in Term 4! Students will enjoy fun and energetic Hip Hop/Jazz/Funk sessions during lunchtime, building confidence, coordination, and creativity.

When & Who:

• Grades 3 – 6: Mondays at lunchtime (starting October 6th) in the hall

• Foundation – Grade 2: Thursdays at lunchtime in the hall

Students will also have the opportunity to perform a special showcase at our Carols on the Green in December – a wonderful way to celebrate their hard work and talent!

How to join:
Please sign up and pay via Compass by Thursday, September 19th to secure your child’s place.

We can’t wait to see our students shine on stage! 

Transition dates for Foundation 2026

We are all looking forward to welcoming our new 2026 students to our Transition session in 2025.

Please see attached information.

Thank you so much for supporting our school to be the best it can be! In term 4 we are hosting a Monty’s Colour Fun Run for our students and raising funds to go towards new laptops for our school.

How Do We Fundraise?

Fundraising for our school is easy! Simply go to www.myprofilepage.com.au and click the register button to create a cybersafe, online profile page. Once you’ve created a parent account and profile page, you can share that around to family and friends to receive online donations. Please note that this is an online fundraiser only and all cash donations must be converted to an online donation before Friday October 24th. Receive a prize for your fundraising efforts by simply raising $10 online!

At the end of the fundraiser, students can mix and match up to a total of five prizes based on their donations received or they can give back to one of the six causes on offer - The Great Barrier Reef Foundation (coral planting or turtle protection), Carbon Neutral (tree planting), OzHarvest (providing meals to those in need ), The Smith Family (reading support) or Dolly’s Dream (end bullying in schools).

You can also receive some bonus Monty the Monstar incentive prizes! Check out your sponsorship form booklet for more information!

Event Information:

Thursday 23rd October 12:00pm - 3:30pm

Mentone Park Primary School – School Oval

• Wear a white shirt to make the colour pop!

• Each student will also receive a pair of sunglasses and a headband!

• Students are required to wear closed-in shoes.

• Students will be covered in non-toxic, biodegradable colour powder.

We look forward to seeing the students all bright and colourful on the day of our Monty’s Colour Fun

Run! For further information, please contact MPPS PFA Vice President - Stacey Kyriakou via staceykyriakou@gmail.com 

Happy Fundraising!

IMPORTANT REMINDER

Poco Music is an external Music Lesson Provider to our school.

Please see below for more details.

TERM 4 NEW LUNCH ORDER MENU

After-School ART CLASS! 

Do you have a little artist at home? Let their creativity shine!

WHEN: Every Thursday
WHERE: In the Art Room
TIME: 3:40 PM – 5:00 PM
Bring a snack!

First class FREE! 

Come and create with us!