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.

What a wonderful week it has been at Mentone Park Primary School 

Today we celebrated one of our favourite events of the year, Grandparents Day. It was a joy to welcome so many grandparents into our classrooms and see the smiles on our students' faces as they proudly shared their learning. We were especially touched by the efforts families made to be part of the day. Grandparents travelled far and wide, including New Zealand and Adelaide, while others spent several hours on the road to join us for the morning. 

A special thank you to our wonderful PFA for providing a delicious morning tea for our grandparents, and to Lori from TheirCare for her assistance throughout the morning. We also extend our thanks to TheirCare for generously providing the delicious muffins. 

This term is packed with exciting learning opportunities. We have many students stepping outside their comfort zones and participating in our very own Assistant Principal's Maths Challenge, the Australian Mathematics Competition, and the Prime Minister's Spelling Bee. It is fantastic to see so many students willing to challenge themselves and have a go. Thank you to our families for encouraging and supporting your children to embrace these opportunities. 

We have now launched our brand-new Explore Fridays! Students were able to choose an activity that interested them, with options including cooking, robotics, cricket, netball, AFL, drawing, and chess. The first session was a success, and we are looking forward to Explore Fridays continuing fortnightly throughout the term. 

As always, thank you for your continued support of Mentone Park Primary School- the best school ever!  

Leisa 

Dear Parents, Guardians and Caregivers, 

I hope you and your families are all well and that you are getting your costumes ready for Book Week! 

2026 Australian Mathematics Competition 
This week, 37 of our Year 3-6 students proudly represented Mentone Park Primary School by participating in the Australian Mathematics Competition (AMC). We are incredibly proud of every one of them for choosing to embrace this exciting challenge and extend themselves beyond the everyday classroom. 

The AMC, organised annually by the Australian Maths Trust, is Australia’s longest running, largest and most well-known maths competition for school students. It encourages students to apply their mathematical understanding, reasoning and problem-solving skills to a series of increasingly challenging questions. This year's competition required students to tackle 30 thought-provoking questions in 60 minutes, with success relying not only on mathematical knowledge, but also persistence, logical thinking and strategic decision-making. 

From the moment students arrived, they demonstrated outstanding maturity and enthusiasm. They listened carefully to instructions, approached the challenge with confidence and perseverance, and showcased excellent reasoning and problem-solving skills throughout the competition. At the conclusion of the assessment, Mrs Gibson and I were delighted to congratulate all participants with a well-deserved round of applause in recognition of their fantastic efforts. 

Regardless of the results, we are immensely proud of these students for challenging themselves, stepping outside their comfort zones and representing our school so positively. Opportunities such as the AMC help foster curiosity, resilience and a love of mathematics, and it was wonderful to see so many students eager to take part. 

We now look forward to receiving the official results and certificates from the Australian Maths Trust later this term and celebrating the achievements of all of our participants! 

Assistant Principal’s Maths Fluency Challenge 
Building on the success of the Principal's Reading Challenge, our new Assistant Principal's Maths Fluency Challenge is now officially underway! On Monday morning, Mrs Drummond and I had the pleasure of launching the challenge with each sub-school, explaining how it works and encouraging students to get involved. Since then, classroom teachers have distributed fluency booklets to interested students, and the enthusiasm has been fantastic. 

Designed as an optional home learning initiative, the challenge helps students build confidence, accuracy and automatic recall of essential maths skills through short, enjoyable practice sessions (10-20 minutes). Students can choose to complete challenges from their Maths Fluency Challenge Booklet or practise online using NumBots (Prep–Year 2) or Times Tables Rock Stars (Years 3–6). 

One of the highlights of my week has been the number of students who have proudly stopped me around the school to tell me they have already started completing their challenges, practising online and working towards earning their Bronze Certificate. Their excitement and commitment has been wonderful to see! 

If your child hasn't joined the challenge yet, there is still plenty of time to get involved. Simply encourage them to collect a fluency booklet from their classroom teacher and get started. We encourage parents and carers to join in the fun - spending just 10-20 minutes practising together is a fantastic way to strengthen your child's mathematical fluency while celebrating their progress along the way! 

Toys at School 
We appreciate your support in helping us maintain a positive and focused learning environment by ensuring that toys please remain at home. Recently, we have noticed an increase in students bringing toys to school, including items such as OOSHIES, Beyblades, Pokémon cards, 3D printed objects and soft toys. 

Unless specifically requested by a classroom teacher as part of a learning activity, toys should remain at home. While students often enjoy sharing their favourite items with friends, toys can quickly become a distraction to learning, lead to disagreements or trading between students, and cause disappointment if they are lost or damaged. 

Students who bring toys to school will be asked to hand them to a staff member for safekeeping. We appreciate your support in reminding your child to leave toys safely at home. By working together, we can ensure our students remain focused on what matters most - learning, building positive friendships and making the most of every school day! 

Yours sincerely, 

Nathan Hutchins 

Assistant Principal 

Important Dates

In the Spotlight / Overview

It has been a wonderful fortnight in Prep H, filled with special celebrations and lots of proud moments! 

We loved welcoming so many grandparents into our classroom today for Grandparents Day. The children enjoyed sharing their learning space with someone special, and we used the occasion to continue our Science unit, Any Day Outdoors. Children sat down with their grandparents to complete a weather ‘now and then’ interview, before designing their very own weather symbol. 

Last week we also celebrated a very special milestone – 100 days of school! It is hard to believe how far our little learners have come since Day 1, and we could not be prouder of each and every one of them. The celebrations culminated in a special assembly, where our Foundation students proudly presented to the whole school, standing up tall and speaking with such confidence. It was a genuinely proud moment for us as their teachers. Thank you all for being there to support them! 

Reminders

Toys at School 
We have noticed a growing number of toys coming into the classroom this term. While we understand these items are much loved, they are proving a significant distraction to the whole class, pulling children’s focus away from their learning and, at times, causing upset when items are lost, broken or need to be put away. A reminder that toys are to be kept at home so children can stay focused during learning time. We appreciate your support with this. 

Scienceworks Excursion 
A reminder that our P-2 cohort is off to Scienceworks on Monday 10th August. Children need to arrive at school by 8.40am, as we will be leaving promptly at 9.00am – please plan your morning drop-off with this in mind. School backpacks will be left at school, we will be transporting lunches in our school lunch tubs. Thank you for your help getting everyone ready and on time. 

Writing: In Week 3, our writing focus was on boundary punctuation, with children editing sentences to add missing capital letters, full stops and question marks. We also began exploring fairytales through the lens of action and consequence, using Little Red Riding Hood to identify what a character did and what happened as a result. Later in the week, children wrote and read several decodable sentences, including ‘The big bus can go,’ and created their own bus filled with items beginning with /b/. 

In Week 4, we returned to sentence types, with children learning to distinguish between statement and question sentences and practising ‘What, Who and Where’ questions with matching statement responses. We also continued our fairytales unit, identifying the moral of the story in Little Red Riding Hood.  

InitiaLit: In Week 3, children focused on the /b/ sound and spelling, followed by the tricky words ‘his’ and ‘her’. We then introduced a new sound, /j/, linked to Jan Jellyfish, before practising reading and spelling with this new sound and the tricky word ‘the’. 

In Week 4, children learned the tricky words ‘them’ and ‘there’, followed by a new sound, /w/, linked to Wally Worm. They then moved on to the ‘ck’ sound, practising both reading and spelling words containing this letter pattern. 

Mathematics: In Week 3, children used number tracks to find the difference between numbers within 10, practising counting on and counting back strategies for addition and subtraction. As a class, we also began building our collaborative 100’s chart, practising number recognition, sequencing and counting to 100. 

In Week 4, we moved into our new Measurement unit, focusing on length and height. Children learned to identify and compare long, short and tall objects, before practising how to directly compare and order objects from shortest to longest accurately. 

Science - Any Day Outdoors: In Week 3, our unit continued with a lesson on cloud cover. Children learned to describe the sky by how much of it is covered in cloud, and were introduced to four cloud types: cumulus, stratus, cirrus and cumulonimbus. We headed outside to observe the sky, then completed a cloud-matching activity back in the classroom. 

Our weather and cloud learning was extended on Grandparents Day, where children paired up with their grandparents to complete a weather ‘now and then’ interview and design their own weather symbol. 

Humanities: In Week 4, we began our new Humanities unit, exploring the concept of the past. Children learned that the past is everything that has already happened, and practised sorting pictures into ‘past’ and ‘present’ categories. We also compared how communication, toys and schools have changed from the past to today, which tied in beautifully with the conversations children had with their grandparents.  

Wellbeing – The Resilience Project: In Week 3, our Resilience Project lesson focused on gratitude, using the Gratitude Glasses story to explore how noticing the good things in our lives can help us feel happier. We made some of our own groovy gratitude glasses and looked through them to see what we can be grateful for in our own lives. 

In Week 4, we introduced Alphabet Breathing, a mindfulness technique where children traced each letter of the alphabet while taking slow, calm breaths, reflecting afterwards on how their bodies felt. 

Recognising TIER Role Models

Sienna -  For getting off to a flying start at The Assistant Principals Maths Fluency Challenge. We love to see the enthusiasm Sienna.

Important Dates

In the Spotlight / Overview

Grandparents and Special Friends Day – Thank You 

A heartfelt thank you to all our grandparents and special friends who joined us on Friday for our Grandparents and Special Friends Day. It was wonderful to welcome so many special visitors into our school and classrooms to share in our students' learning. 

We hope you enjoyed spending time with your grandchildren, seeing a snapshot of school life, and connecting with other families over morning tea. Your support, encouragement and involvement mean so much to our students and school community. 

Thank you for helping make the morning such a memorable and enjoyable occasion for everyone. 

Humanities and Science 

Students have been enjoying our Humanities and Science lessons each week. In Humanities, they have been learning about the fascinating world of Ancient Egypt, exploring pharaohs, pyramids and life in ancient times. In Science, students have been learning about different weather symbols and what they tell us about daily weather conditions. 

Reminders

Scienceworks Excursion 
A reminder that our P-2 cohort is off to Scienceworks on Monday 10th August. Children need to arrive at school by 8.40am, as we will be leaving promptly at 9.00am – please plan your morning drop-off with this in mind. School backpacks will be left at school, we will be transporting lunches in our school lunch tubs. Thank you for your help getting everyone ready and on time. 

Toys and Personal Items 
A reminder that toys, Pokémon cards, fidget toys (unless approved as part of a support plan), and other non-essential personal items should remain at home. These items can be distracting during learning time and may be lost or damaged at school. 

Home Reading 
We encourage all students to read at home for 10–15 minutes each day. Daily reading is a great way to build reading confidence and develop fluency, vocabulary and comprehension. If possible, please record your child's reading in their reading diary each night. We also ask that reading diaries are brought to school every day so they can be checked and updated. Thank you for your ongoing support. 

Writing: We have been learning to correctly punctuate lists using commas and identify adverbs of manner and use them correctly with common verbs. We have been learning about Australian author and musician Josh Pyke in preparation for participating in his Little Scribes Author Masterclass during Book Week. 

InitiaLit: 
Year 1:  

• We have been learning the digraphs ‘ow’ as in cow and ‘ou’ as in cloud. We have been also learning about the suffix ‘-ed’ which changes words to the past tense. 

• Our tricky words have included last, fast and I’m.  

• We have enjoyed our storybook ‘Max’ by Bob Graham, which has included the wow words legendary, hover and firmly. 

• We have been learning about prepositions, the digraphs ‘oy’ as in boy and ‘oi’ as in coin, and ‘ph’ saying /f/ as in ‘phone’. 

• Our comprehension strategy has been ‘inferring’. 

• Our tricky words have included build, house, about, tomorrow, school and cousin.   

• We have enjoyed our storybook "The Story of Rosy Dock" by Jeannie Baker, which has included the wow words precious, newcomer and scatter. 

Numeracy: In our current unit on multiplication and division, we have been sharing groups in different ways using physical modelling and arrays. 

Humanities (Ancient Egypt)       

• We are learning about who the pharaohs were and how powerful they were 
• We are learning to describe what a pyramid is and explain why they were built. 

Science (Earth & Space Science – ‘Any Day Outdoors’) 

We have been learning to 

• identify clouds as a feature of the sky. 

• describe how much of the sky is covered by cloud. 

• Identify and name the different types of clouds. 

• identify that temperature is a distinctive characteristic of the weather. 

• use a scale to describe temperature. 

• identify that thermometers can be used to measure temperature. 

Wellbeing (The Resilience Project): 

• We have been learning to accurately describe and name our emotions after we have been mindful. 

• We have been learning to understand that emotions are like important messengers and understand what the main emotions are trying to tell us. 

Recognising TIER Role Models

Lacey M – For consistently setting a positive example for her peers. You always try your best and give 100%. Amazing, Lacey! 

Kianin P – For settling beautifully into our school community, trying his best each day and being a lovely student to have in our class. We are so happy to have you with us! 

Important Dates

In the Spotlight / Overview

Explore Friday! 
Last Friday marked the exciting launch of our first Explore Friday for the term! Students took part in a wide range of activities, including Robotics, Chess, Netball, Cricket and Trivia. 

It was wonderful to see students trying new experiences, developing new skills and connecting with peers from across the school who share similar interests. The enthusiasm and engagement shown throughout the afternoon made for a fantastic start to the program. 

We look forward to seeing our students continue to build friendships, discover new passions and enjoy Explore Fridays (every second week) throughout the term. 

Grandparents and Special Friends Day 
We were delighted to welcome our grandparents and special friends to Mentone Park Primary School for Grandparents and Special Friends Day! 

After a welcome from our Principal and Student Leaders, guests joined students in the Year 3/4 classrooms to watch or participate in some science activities and experience a snapshot of school life.  

The morning concluded with a complimentary morning tea in the school hall, providing a lovely opportunity for guests to connect with one another and our school community. 

Thank you to everyone who attended and helped make the day so special. We loved sharing this morning with you! 

Camp 
Thanks to all the parents who have already consented via Compass. We will be having weekly meetings to talk about Camp and answer any questions students may have and will send a packing list home this week. 

Please note, we have brought the due date forward for consent in Compass to Monday 10th August so we can get the dietary and medical information to the camp well before we get there. 

Reminders

Curriculum Day 
Wednesday 12th August is a Curriculum Day (student free) 

Homework 
A friendly reminder that homework is due each Friday morning.  

Reading: 20-30 minutes at least 3 x per week, with book title and pages/chapters read and recorded in student diaries. 

Maths: Set Mathletics tasks completed (approximately 20 minutes per week). 

Literacy: We have read the first few chapters of Storm Boy and applied some new vocabulary. We have also used the “GST” method to write summary sentences. We are also learning about the setting, the Coorong National Park in South Australia. 

In SpellEx, Year 3 students have been learning how to spell /k/ at the beginning and end of words. 

Year 4 students have been learning more about contractions, abbreviations, and the different ways to spell /k/ (c, k and ch). 

Numeracy: We have been revising multiplication and division algorithms, as well as naming, comparing, and estimating angles. 

Wellbeing – Social Stencils lessons 

This week we looked at I Care and talked about the following strategies: 

• You’re there for people if you can be. 

• When listening to others, you try to connect with what you hear. 

• You only help people with their problems if they want to be helped. 

• When helping others, you don’t take over. 

In our “Resilience Project” lessons we have been developing gratitude board games. 

Science: Our topic this term is Earth’s Changing Surface. Students are investigating weathering and erosion. We are also learning about the rock cycle and sedimentary, metamorphic and igneous rocks. 

Recognising TIER Role Models

Congratulations to our most recent TIER Role Models! 

Dustin B (Week 2) 
For his focus and effort during Spellex classes. He has demonstrated integrity and respect by making positive learning choices, staying focused on his work, and completing tasks to a high standard. 

Aimi J (Week 2) 
For her confident use of the CUBES strategy when solving worded multiplication and division problems, while also consistently supporting others during Maths lessons. 

Important Dates

In the Spotlight / Overview

Our Grade 5/6 students have been busy putting the finishing touches on their Economics 'Shark Tank' business proposals and are looking forward to presenting their innovative ideas. In Literacy, students have been writing persuasive letters about polar bear conservation, using evidence to strengthen their arguments. In Mathematics, we have completed our unit on fractions and are now beginning to explore angles, developing our understanding of how they are measured and used in everyday life.

Reminders

Student Free Day – Please note that next Wednesday 12th August is a Curriculum Day. Students are not required to attend school. 

Healesville Sanctuary Excursion – Our excursion to Healesville Sanctuary is on Thursday 13th August. Please provide consent via Compass as soon as possible if you haven't already done so. 

Book Week – We look forward to seeing everyone's wonderful costumes at our Book Week Parade on Monday 17th August. 

Literacy: We are learning to upgrade verbs within an argument. We are learning to identify persuasive language features and devices and generate persuasive points to effectively persuade a reader. 

Numeracy:  We are learning to measure and draw acute, right and obtuse angles. 

Economics: We are learning to understand that businesses require capital, human and natural resources to operate, and to identify the resources needed for their own business. 

Wellbeing: We are learning to understand the different chemical responses triggered by emotions in our bodies. 

Recognising TIER Role Models

Will C - Excellence – For working diligently on his Shark Tank project and putting in the extra effort to ensure his group didn’t fall behind when his partner was absent. 

Edward G-M - A dedicated learner who is always prepared, works hard, and contributes positively to class discussions. 

Aubrey D - Always brings positive energy to the classroom and is a fantastic team player who supports and encourages others. 

In the Spotlight / Overview

Everyone has gotten their heart rate up and surprised themselves in the process as we have been jumping rope and skipping! Our younger students (P- 2) are learning how to safely use a jump rope, practising basic two-foot jumps, and building coordination by turning and jumping with control. Students in Years 3–6 are refining their rhythm and timing by performing continuous jumps, exploring different footwork patterns and tricks, and working together in long-rope challenges. These activities help build coordination, balance, fitness, confidence, and teamwork while encouraging students to stay active and enjoy learning new skills. This has motivated many students to bring in their own ropes from home or join in on skipping club at Thursday lunchtime. 

In additional news, stay tuned for the announcement of our District Athletics Team (students in Yr 3-6) and the MPPS Basketball Gala Day team (students in Yr 5/6). Our 5/6 students have been participating in basketball try outs during lunchtime this week to help form our 2 teams representing Mentone Park.  

Reminders

Everyone is encouraged to have a go and to try things in some capacity. If for some reason your child is unable to participate in PE (eg. injury), please don’t hesitate to let me know via Compass so that I can ensure they are catered for.  

P-2: We are learning to safely manipulate a jump rope on the ground and practice basic two-foot jumping and turning coordination. 

Yr 3-6: We are demonstrating rhythmic timing by executing continuous single bounces, attempting at least two distinct footwork variations or tricks, and cooperating in long-rope challenges.

Recognising TIER Role Models

Week 3 
Madelynn – For demonstrating RESPECT & EXCELLENCE in PE. You have shown a wonderful enthusiasm for jump rope and listened and responded respectfully to feedback. Superstar! 

Week 4
Kianin – For demonstrating INTEGRITY and TEAMWORK in PE during our jump rope lessons. You listened to and carefully followed safety instructions, whilst also ensuring others were included. Amazing! 

In the Spotlight / Overview

Over the past fortnight, students across all year levels have completed 2 very different tasks, but both equally colourful and amazing! In week 3, students explored transferring colours from foil (as their background) to black outlined drawings of sea creatures on paper. The excitement of having the ‘magic’ (a spray of water) added to activate it, pressing gently to transfer and peeling back for the reveal, was really special! It was also a great opportunity to reflect on what they would do differently next time after seeing the placement of colours/patterns in their final pieces. 

This week our focus shifted to discussing Grandparents and/or Special People in our lives that we can celebrate at this Friday’s special morning. To acknowledge them, students first planned artworks that included things their special person might like and then created them on card bookmarks with tassels (P-2) and wooden bookmarks with twine (3-6).  

Reminders

Sometimes things get a little messy in the art room and therefore everyone is encouraged to have an art smock. This could be a purchased one (eg. from somewhere like Officeworks) or an old shirt (adult sized are great for kids!). If these could please be labelled with name and grade, it would be greatly appreciated. There is a tub of spares always available in the art room, however please note that these are used by students across the entire school.  

Week 3 

P-2: We are learning to experiment with process art and transfer colours from one surface (tin foil) to another (paper). 

Yr 3-6: We are learning to explore how a non-porous matrix (tin foil) holds and transfers medium to produce a unique, one-of-a-kind print. 

Week 4 

P-2: We are learning to explore shapes and lines to create a gift that shows appreciation for a special person. 

Yr 3-6: We are learning to plan and apply art elements (colour, shape, and text) to design a functional artwork on a wooden surface. 

In the Spotlight / Overview

In Auslan, students across the school are building their confidence with understanding what is being signed in stories (F-2) and in simple conversations (3-6). Students in F-2 have been learning some signs to describe everyday routines at home during the morning, afternoon and evening/ night.  

Students in 3-6 are building their confidence and fluency with fingerspelling and common signs, and are applying their time, weather, clothes, places and transport and hobbies signs to create plans for the weekend or holidays. 

Prep: We are learning afternoon and night routines. 

1/2: We are learning afternoon and night routines. 

3/4: We are learning weather, clothes and country signs. 

5/6: We are learning to tell the time and make plans in Auslan. 

Recognising TIER Role Models

Week 3: Yana I: Integrity, Excellence. For having an amazing attitude towards her Auslan learning this week. You remembered all the morning and afternoon routine signs, without any teacher help! Keep it up superstar!  

Week 4: Sofiia C: Integrity, Excellence. For her consistency and dedication to practising signing accurately and building her fingerspelling fluency. Each week you try so hard, and it’s great to see your Auslan skills improving!

Prep 
Students have been singing songs including ‘One Finger One Thumb’, ‘Everybody do This’, ‘My Hat it has Three Corners’, ‘Head and Shoulders’, and ‘Little Cabin in the Wood’. These songs involve actions, and in some songs the action helps us when we have to leave a word out.  

The students have enjoyed playing a musical game in which they sing the song ‘Button you must wander’ while passing an egg shaker around the circle then at the end of the song whoever has it hides it behind their back and the person in the middle who has been listening carefully guesses who has it.  

Throughout the game and songs, in addition to singing and moving to the music, the students have learned about dynamics (soft, moderate and loud) and tempo (slow and fast). 

Year 1 and 2 
Students have been learning songs, chants and rhymes including ‘This is the way we clap our hands’, ‘Listen as I whisper’, ‘Hickory, Dickory Dock’ and ‘The Animal Band’.  

The students have enjoyed playing musical games. They sang the song, ‘Button you must wander’ while passing an egg shaker around the circle then at the end of the song whoever has it hides it behind their back and the person in the middle who has been listening carefully guesses who has it. They have also just learned to play ‘Cut the Cake’ which involves singing, actions and a game of chase between two students at the end. What fun! 

The students learned about pitch when speaking in a low-pitched voice for Papa Bear, and a higher pitched voice for Mama Bear and Baby Bear in the story ‘Goldilocks and the Three Bears’. They used their facial expressions and body to express how the characters were feeling also.  

The students have begun to use unpitched percussion instruments as they played the bongo drums to keep the beat in ‘Hickory, Dickory Dock’. 

Throughout the games and songs, in addition to singing and moving to the music, the students have learned about three elements of music: pitch (high and low), dynamics (soft, moderate and loud) and tempo (slow and fast). 

Year 3 and 4 
The students worked on their improvisation skills when creating a short oral story which had to contain three words. 

The students have learned a musical game called ‘Apple Tree’ in which they sang the song and passed a ball around the circle to the beat.  

The students have also learned a song, ‘One for the Money’, with body percussion to the beat. Then they worked with a group to compose body percussion for a rhyme, rehearsed it and perform it to the class. This was then used with the song ‘One for the Money’ to create a whole class performance involving rondo form. The class learned about appropriate audience behaviour. 

Year 5 and 6 
The students have learned about rhythm matching the syllables in words then created a rhythm using their partner’s name and something they like.  

The students played a game, similar to charades, in which a person thinks of a word and shares a word that rhymes with it as a clue for the others to guess. The students had to act out their guesses.  

The students have learned a musical game called ‘Apple Tree’ in which they sang the song and passed a ball around the circle to the beat. The students were exposed to key changes and identified if the key was in a higher or lower pitch. 

The students learned a challenging rhyme ‘A Flea and a Fly’, which was a bit like a tongue twister, and a partner dance to go with it. Then they learned two accompanying parts which added to the level of difficulty when the class were in groups, as each group had a different part, but they all performed at the same time! One class also managed to develop their own movements for the two accompanying parts and performed all three parts altogether with their movements! 

Stepping out of a Drama Triangle 

Every day in schools, we navigate challenges, solve problems, and support one another. Whether it's in the classroom, the staffroom, or at home, difficult situations can sometimes lead us into unhelpful patterns of communication. 

Our Grade 3 to 6’s continue to develop social skills through the Social Stencil Program. They continue working on strategies to avoid Social Dramas. 

 It reminds us that, under stress, people can unintentionally slip into one of three roles: 

• The Mouse – feeling powerless or believing there are no options. 

• The Magpie – stepping in to fix problems for others, often before they have the opportunity to develop their own solutions. 

• The Lion – becoming critical, blaming, or controlling when things don't go as planned. 

The challenge is that people can move between these roles very quickly, creating cycles of frustration rather than resolution. 

Fortunately, there are practical strategies that help us step out of the Drama Triangle and into healthier, more productive interactions. 

Three Wellbeing Strategy Checklists 

? Problem Solve 

When challenges arise, shift your thinking from "Whose fault is this?" to "What can we do next?" 

Ask yourself: 

• What is happening? 

• What is within my control? 

• What solutions could work? 

• Who can help? 

• What is the next small step? 

Teaching students to become problem solvers builds resilience, confidence, and independence. 

? I Am Assertive 

Assertive communication helps us express ourselves respectfully while listening to others. 

Being assertive means: 

• Speaking calmly and honestly. 

• Using respectful language. 

• Setting healthy boundaries. 

• Asking for what you need. 

• Listening to understand another person's perspective. 

When adults model assertive communication, students learn valuable skills for managing friendships, conflict, and teamwork. 

❤️ I Am Caring 

Being caring is about supporting others without taking away their opportunity to learn and grow. 

A caring response includes: 

• Listening with empathy. 

• Acknowledging feelings. 

• Asking questions that encourage thinking. 

• Offering guidance rather than taking over. 

• Believing in another person's ability to solve problems. 

Caring relationships help students feel safe, connected, and capable. 

A Wellbeing Reflection 

Whether you're a teacher, education support staff member, parent, or student, we all have moments when emotions run high. The next time you notice a difficult interaction, consider asking yourself: 

• How can I focus on solving the problem? 

• How can I communicate assertively? 

• How can I show care while encouraging responsibility? 

These three simple strategies—Problem Solve, I Am Assertive, and I Am Caring—help create a school culture where people feel heard, respected, and empowered. 

Together, we can build a community where challenges become opportunities to learn, relationships grow stronger, and wellbeing remains at the heart of everything we do. 

Any questions please contact zoe.guthrie@education.vic.gov.au  

Many thanks, 

Zoe Guthrie 

Mental Health & Wellbeing Leader 

Dear Local Community/Business Owners,

Support Our Students’ Vision for a New Playground at Mentone Park Primary School

At Mentone Park Primary School, we believe the best ideas often come from our students. Our Student Representative Council (SRC), together with many of our students, has been advocating for a new playground, and we are excited to begin turning their vision into a reality.

Four years ago, the construction of our new Junior Building significantly reduced the space available for our Year 3–6 playground. While the new learning spaces have been a wonderful addition to our school, our older students now have a much smaller play area than they need.

We are committed to creating a modern, engaging playground that encourages physical activity, social connection and imaginative play. Importantly, our students will play a key role in designing the space, helping to choose the equipment and features that will best meet their needs.

To bring this project to life, our school community is dedicating all fundraising from school events towards the playground. However, we cannot achieve this vision alone.

We are reaching out to our local businesses to ask if you would consider supporting our project through a financial donation or sponsorship. Every contribution, no matter the size, will directly support the construction of our new playground and make a lasting difference to the children who learn and play at Mentone Park Primary School each year.

Your generosity will not only help create an exciting new play space but will also demonstrate your commitment to investing in the wellbeing and future of local children. We would be delighted to acknowledge our sponsors through our school newsletter, social media platforms and other appropriate school communications.

If you would like to make a direct donation, our bank account details are below:

Account Name: Mentone Park Primary School
BSB: 063 144
Account Number: 10083381
Ref: Playground

Alternatively, if you would like to discuss sponsorship opportunities or require a tax invoice or receipt, please contact the school office on (03) 9583 4935 or email mentone.park.ps@education.vic.gov.au.

Thank you for considering our request and for supporting the children of Mentone Park Primary School. Together, we can create a playground our students will enjoy for many years to come.

Kind regards,

Leisa Higgins

Principal

Bingo Night Success!

A huge thank you to everyone who joined the PFA Bingo Night! It was a fantastic evening filled with plenty of laughs, friendly competition and wonderful community spirit. It was great to see so many families and friends coming together for such a fun night.

A very special thank you goes to our incredible Parents & Friends Association (PFA), whose hard work and dedication made the event such a success. From organising the evening to securing an amazing range of raffle prizes, their efforts were truly outstanding.

A special shout-out also goes to our fabulous MC, Angie (Frankies Mum), whose energy, humour and enthusiasm kept everyone entertained throughout the night. She helped create a fun atmosphere that had everyone smiling.

Thanks to the generosity of our community and local businesses who donated prizes, we are thrilled to announce that the evening raised over $5,500 for our school. These funds will go towards exciting projects that will benefit our students, including our future senior playground.

Thank you to everyone who attended, volunteered, donated and supported the event. Your generosity and community spirit continue to make Mentone Park Primary School such a wonderful place.

We can't wait to see you at our next PFA event!

IMPORTANT DATES

Saturday 15h August – Working Bee 9-11am

Friday 4th September – Father's Day/Special Friends Breakfast & Stall

SECONDHAND UNIFORM SHOP

Need to stock up on school uniforms? Our Secondhand Uniform Shop is open every second Friday from 3.30pm – 3.40pm and is located in the P.E. Room.

Next opening: Friday 21 August

A great opportunity to pick up quality pre-loved uniform items at affordable prices. We look forward to seeing you there!