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.

This morning, our school was filled with the wonderful smell of eggs and bacon as we came together to celebrate Father’s Day with our annual breakfast and soccer match! It was fantastic to see such a wonderful turnout, and particularly special to see three generations of families joining us to celebrate together. 

A very big thank you to our PFA (Bec, Vicki, Tim, Kate, Cameille, Heather, Sarah, Frances) for getting up early to prepare and serve breakfast from 7.00am, as well as for all the work that took place behind the scenes to make the morning such a wonderful success. Events like this are a special part of our school community, and we are incredibly grateful for the time, energy and enthusiasm our PFA puts into making these experiences possible. 

Grade 3 and 4 Camp at Briars 

It was wonderful to visit our Grade 3 and 4 students at Camp Briars last Thursday. When I arrived, the students were having a fantastic time and were enthusiastically embracing the many camping activities. 

I enjoyed spending time with the different groups, watching the students work together as a team, support one another and challenge themselves. It was lovely to see them developing their independence, resilience and confidence outside of the classroom. 

A huge thank you to Mrs Gibson, Mrs Bastin, Mrs Wheatly, Mr Griffin and Jen for taking our students on camp and for providing such a positive and memorable experience. There were some very tired students (and staff!) who returned back to school on Friday afternoon! 

Whole School Maths Incursion 

On Tuesday, our whole school participated in an exciting Maths Incursion, organised by our Numeracy Leader, Mrs Kate Drummond. It was great to see our students and staff engaged throughout the performance. 

The show featured short sketches and games that combined maths history, maths magic, puzzles and much more. It was highly interactive, with plenty of opportunities for student participation, movement and problem-solving. Most importantly, our students had lots of fun while creating some memorable maths moments! 

Thank you to Mrs Drummond for organising such an engaging learning experience and for finding another wonderful way to inspire our students to see the joy and excitement in mathematics. 

Celebrating Teacher Professional Learning 

At Mentone Park Primary School, we strongly value the ongoing learning and professional development of our staff. We know that investing in our teachers’ professional growth has a positive impact on teaching practice, student outcomes and whole-school improvement. 

We are very proud to share that Mrs Kate Drummond (Numeracy Leader) and Mrs Emma Free (Literacy Leader) have continued their professional learning through the Teaching Excellence Program at the Victorian Academy of Teaching and Leadership. The program provides teachers with opportunities to further develop their capabilities and pursue excellence in teaching. 

So far this year, Mrs Drummond and Mrs Free have participated in three Discipline Days and three Teaching Excellence Learning Community days. They have also completed a collaborative teacher inquiry project, focusing on teaching practices in Numeracy and Literacy with the aim of improving outcomes for students at MPPS. They are currently undertaking an individual inquiry to further strengthen and refine their teaching practice. 

We have greatly valued the knowledge, ideas and insights that Mrs Drummond and Mrs Free have brought back to our school through their participation in the program. Their commitment to their own professional learning is a wonderful example of the culture of continuous improvement we strive to foster at MPPS. 

We look forward to seeing how they continue to apply their learning to support the learning, achievement and wellbeing of our students at Mentone Park Primary School. 

Leisa

Dear Parents, Guardians and Caregivers, 

I hope you and your families are all well and looking forward to a busy final two weeks of Term 3! 

Year 5/6 District Basketball Gala Day 

On Monday 24th of August, I had the privilege of attending the Year 5/6 District Basketball Gala Day, hosted by Parkdale Secondary College. We were proudly represented by both a boys’ and girls’ team, with 10 students selected for each team. I had the pleasure of coaching the boys’ team on the day, while Mr Nick Griffin (5/6G Teacher) coached our girls’ team. 

In the lead-up to the Gala Day, we held a number of try-outs and training sessions for interested Year 5/6 students. These were incredibly well attended, with the enthusiasm so strong that we often had multiple sessions running across the day! It was fantastic to see so many students keen to get involved, improve their skills and represent our school. 

Parkdale Secondary College did a terrific job of hosting the Gala Day, with their student’s taking responsibility for umpiring the games as well as managing the results and schedule throughout the day. A big thank you to Ms Madeleine Oates (Art, PE & PH Teacher) who coordinated our school’s attendance at this event. 

Most importantly, our students were fantastic representatives of our school. Across both teams, they demonstrated each of our TIER values - Teamwork, Integrity, Excellence and Respect. They encouraged and supported their teammates, competed with determination, showed respect towards their opponents and umpires, and demonstrated excellent sportsmanship throughout the day. 

Well done to all 20 students who represented us so proudly, as well as to all of the students who enthusiastically participated in the try-outs and training sessions in the lead-up to the day! 

Assistant Principal’s Maths Fluency Challenge 

The Assistant Principal’s Maths Fluency Challenge continues to build momentum! 

At our most recent assembly, we were delighted to recognise another fantastic group of students receiving certificates. Along with many more Bronze and Silver Certificates, we also celebrated our first Gold Certificate recipients – an outstanding achievement and a reflection of some terrific commitment to regular maths practice at home. 

It has been great to see students continuing to work through their challenge booklets and build their fluency through NumBots and Times Tables Rock Stars. 

Importantly, it’s definitely not too late to start – or to get back into the Challenge! Whether you’re working towards your first Bronze Certificate or your next level, there is still plenty of time to get involved. Students can simply collect a Maths Fluency Challenge Booklet from their classroom teacher and get started. 

Remember, just 10–20 minutes of regular practice at home can make a real difference to mathematical fluency and confidence. Keep up the great work! 

Year 1 Numeracy Check Pilot 

On Monday 31st of August and Tuesday 1st of September, our Year 1 students participated in the Department of Education’s Year 1 Numeracy Check pilot. 

The Numeracy Check is a short screening assessment focusing on key early numeracy skills, including students’ accuracy and fluency. The information gathered provides teachers with another valuable source of data to identify students who may benefit from additional support and to inform targeted teaching in Mathematics. 

From 2027, the Year 1 Numeracy Check will become mandatory across all Victorian government primary schools. Participating in this year’s pilot has provided our school with a valuable opportunity to become familiar with the assessment ahead of its statewide introduction. A big thank you to Mrs Kate Drummond (Numeracy Leader and 1/2D Teacher) for coordinating the pilot here at MPPS! 

Yours sincerely, 

Nathan Hutchins 

Assistant Principal 

Important Dates

In the Spotlight / Overview

Father’s Day Breakfast & Stall 

What a joyful morning we had celebrating Father’s Day and our Special Friends in Prep at MPPS! It was so sweet to watch our little ones share a cozy breakfast together. A huge thank you to everyone who volunteered to make the event run smoothly. We are so grateful to the helpers who cooked and served food, managed the stall, and gently guided our Prep students as they picked out their very first special stall gifts. Your time and support made this milestone morning so magical for our newest students and their families. Thank you, amazing MPPS community, for creating such a sweet and memorable first Father's Day celebration for our Prep classes! 

Maths Comes Alive at MPPS! 

On Tuesday, MPPS students enjoyed two fabulous Maths incursions that brought mathematics to life through fun, movement, problem-solving and teamwork! 

Our Prep to Year 2 students enjoyed The Junior Maths Show. Students learnt about famous mathematicians, such as the Ancient Greek mathematician Archimedes and how they used to solve maths problems in clay! We especially enjoyed it when our presenter, Louisa, had to read Mr Wilton’s mind to discover the answers to Mr Wilton’s maths problems. The students then went onto use their addition skills by adding two dice together to decide which dance moves they had to perform! 

It was wonderful to see our students thinking like mathematicians, solving problems and having fun with maths! We are incredibly proud of everyone who took part. 

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.  

Fruit Break 

To assist with transition between lessons or to Specialists, we ask that fruit break please be packed in a small separate container or is easily accessible to grab and go. This reduces and prevents time spent taking/returning entire lunchboxes. It also allows our little learners, more valuable learning time! 

Assistant Principal’s Maths Fluency Challenge! 

A reminder that our Maths Fluency Challenge is underway! Students are encouraged to practise their maths fluency for 10–20 minutes each day using their challenge booklet and/or NumBots. 

Please remember to record and sign completed challenges or NumBots sessions in your child’s Fluency Log. Students can work towards Bronze, Silver and Gold certificates as they progress. 

Participation is optional, but we encourage students to have a go and build their confidence with maths facts! 

Writing:  

• We are learning to write sentences that contain nouns, verbs and adjectives. 

• We are learning to expand and complete sentence stems using ‘and’. 

• We are learning to sequence the parts of a narrative to retell a story. 

• We are learning to expand and complete sentences using 'because'. 

InitiaLit:  

• We are learning the sound /sh/ and linking to letters ‘sh’. 

• We are learning the sound /ē/ (Eric Elephant) – Linking to letters 'ee'. 

• We are learning the sound /kw/ (Quiet Queen) and linking to letters 'qu'. 

Mathematics:  

• We are learning to identify equal shares. 

• We are learning to share equally between two and three groups. 

• We are learning to share equally when there is one left over. 

• We are learning to solve problems by sharing collections. 

Science - Any Day Outdoors  

• We are learning that wind is moving air, and we can observe how strong it is. 

• We are learning that different Aboriginal groups notice different signs in nature to know what season it is. We are learning that Boonwurrung Country — where Mentone is — has six seasons, not four. 

Humanities:  

• We are learning about how people find out about the past. 

• We are learning to understand the stages of life people go through as they grow older. 

Wellbeing – The Resilience Project:  

• We are learning to understand that emotions come and go, and that there are lots of ways to reset, change or express our emotions. 

• We are learning to show empathy by caring for others when they are not well, and to understand how to take compassionate and kind actions to support others when they are in need.  

Recognising TIER Role Models

Selena – For working hard to write fantastic sentences with capital letters, punctuation, and correctly formed letters. Well done, Selena! 

Miles - For the amazing progress he has made with his handwriting – forming clear, neat letters that sit on the baseline. Well done, Miles! 

Important Dates

In the Spotlight / Overview

Father’s Day Breakfast & Stall 

What a wonderful morning we had celebrating Father’s Day and our Special Friends at MPPS! It was lovely to see so many dads, grandfathers and special friends join us for breakfast and spend some special time with our students. 

A huge thank you to everyone who volunteered their time to make the morning possible. We are especially grateful to those who helped cook and serve breakfast, set up and pack down, as well as those who assisted students at our Father’s Day Stall as they chose their special gifts. 

Your time, generosity and support helped make it such a fantastic morning for our students and their special people. Thank you to our amazing MPPS community for helping us create such a memorable celebration! 

Maths Comes Alive at MPPS! 

On Tuesday, MPPS students enjoyed two fabulous Maths incursions that brought mathematics to life through fun, movement, problem-solving and teamwork! 

Our Prep to Year 2 students enjoyed The Junior Maths Show. Students learnt about famous mathematicians, such as the Ancient Greek mathematician Archimedes and how they used to solve maths problems in clay! We especially enjoyed it when our presenter, Louisa, had to read Mr Wilton’s mind to discover the answers to Mr Wilton’s maths problems. The students then went onto use their addition skills by adding two dice together to decide which dance moves they had to perform!  

It was wonderful to see our students thinking like mathematicians, solving problems and having fun with maths! We are incredibly proud of everyone who took part. 

Reminders

Fruit Break 

To assist with transition between lessons or to Specialists, we ask that fruit break please be packed in a small separate container or is easily accessible to grab and go. This reduces and prevents time spent taking/returning entire lunchboxes. It also allows our little learners, more valuable learning time! 

Assistant Principal’s Maths Fluency Challenge! 

A reminder that our Maths Fluency Challenge is underway! Students are encouraged to practise their maths fluency for 10–20 minutes each day using their challenge booklet and/or NumBots. 

Please remember to record and sign completed challenges or NumBots sessions in your child’s Fluency Log. Students can work towards Bronze, Silver and Gold certificates as they progress. 

Participation is optional, but we encourage students to have a go and build their confidence with maths facts! 

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 are learning to write and use different sentence types — statements, questions, commands and exclamations — to suit our purpose. 

• We are learning to understand the purpose and structure of an information report, including finding and collecting facts on our topic. 

InitiaLit-1 

• Split digraph review — the "bossy e" rule 

• The "aw" sound (as in claw) and the "au" sound (as in autumn) 

• The doubling rule when adding endings to words ending in f, l, s 

• Review lessons consolidating recent sounds and tricky words 

InitiaLit-2 

• Spelling: "ear," "eer," "air" and "are" sounds, and two-syllable words (both closed and open first syllable) 

• Grammar: using conjunctions (and, but, or, so, because) 

• Comprehension: inferring and finding the main idea 

Numeracy 

• We are learning about multiplication and division — sharing and grouping, representing with arrays, and repeated subtraction. 

• We are learning to tell the time (to the hour and quarter hour) and identify clockwise and anti-clockwise turns. 

Humanities (Ancient Egypt) 

• We are learning to explain what ancient Egyptians believed the gods and goddesses did. 

• We are learning how the ancient Egyptians wrote. 

Science (Earth & Space Science) 

• We are learning that changes in weather and seasons can be observed and described. 

• We are learning to describe weather characteristics and identify suitable clothes, activities and equipment for different conditions. 

TRP (The Resilience Project) 

• We are learning that our brains are unique and need different things to work at their best. 

• We are building our understanding that people respond to situations differently, and practising empathy for different emotional responses. 

Recognising TIER Role Models

Cooper B: For actively contributing to our maths discussions and showing a strong understanding of grouping as repeated subtraction. Keeping Shining! 

Important Dates

In the Spotlight / Overview

Year 3/4 Camp at The Briars  

What a fantastic few days we had at The Briars Camp! With beautiful weather, an action-packed program, and plenty of opportunities to challenge themselves, students embraced every activity with enthusiasm and courage. We enjoyed many activities including the giant swing, archery, zipline, crate stacking, and many more! There were plenty of laughs and opportunities for students to step outside their comfort zones and support one another. Evenings included a nature walk and trivia before bed. Of course, everyone was very well fed throughout the camp, with plenty of delicious meals and treats to keep us fuelled for the busy days! It was wonderful to see students building their confidence, independence and resilience while creating special memories with their classmates. A fantastic camp was had by all! 

Spelling Bee 

Congratulations to Hutch, Nia, Kallan, Xander and Ben, who successfully progressed through the School Round of the Prime Minister’s Spelling Bee to qualify for the State/Territory Finals, which was held on Thursday. 

Maths Comes Alive at MPPS! 

On Tuesday, MPPS students enjoyed two fabulous maths incursions that brought mathematics to life through fun, movement, problem-solving and teamwork! Our Years 3 to 6 students took on ‘The Maths Escape Room’, working in teams of four to solve eight challenging maths activities. 

Teams had to work collaboratively to solve puzzles, find hidden clues, break codes, open locked boxes and use their mathematical thinking to progress through the challenges. The activities covered a range of mathematical areas, including number, fractions, algebra, shape and space, measurement, probability and data. 

At the end of the challenge, the teams with the highest scores were crowned our winners! 

Congratulations to our winning Year 3/4 team: 
Hutch, Olive, Zara and Mitchell 

Well done to all of our students who participated, challenged themselves, worked collaboratively and gave everything their best effort! It was wonderful to see everyone thinking like mathematicians, solving problems and having fun with maths! 

Reminders

Assistant Principal’s Maths Fluency Challenge 

Students are encouraged to practise their maths fluency for 10-20 minutes each day, working towards Bronze, Silver and Gold milestones!   

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 returned to our Storm Boy Novel Study after our camp! We have been discussing the vocabulary and figurative language used by Colin Theile, and have been constructing simple, compound and complex sentences focusing on correct use of pronouns and conjunctions (connectives). 

In SpellEx, Year 3 students have been learning how to turn verbs into nouns by adding the suffix ‘ion’ to words. 

Year 4 students have been learning about word origins including base words and have learned some new “tricky and useful” words including serious, precious, anxious and marvellous. 

Numeracy: We have been practising 8-times tables and learning how we can rename tenths and hundredths in decimal format. We have also been practising partitioning numbers up to two decimal places and writing the standard expanded form 

Wellbeing – The Resilience Project 

In our “Resilience Project” lessons we explored the “upstairs and downstairs brain” and how when we are angry, we can ‘flip the lid’, as we feel these intense emotions in our ‘downstairs brain’. We want to be able to help our ‘downstairs brain’ communicate with our ‘upstairs brain’ so we can name the emotion, ‘name it to tame it’, and we can choose a strategy to cope with it. 

Civic & Citizenship: We have started learning about the birth of democracy in Greece including where Ancient Greece was located and when it existed, and what life was like in Athens. 

Recognising TIER Role Models

Congratulations to our most recent TIER Role Models! 

Eddie W (Week 5) 

For his wonderful efforts during our Book Week Author Masterclasses and demonstrating the “four P’s” during Mick Elliott’s lesson about graphic novels!

Nia K (Week 5) 

For consistently following instructions, being respectful to others, and demonstrating SHINE! You are a wonderful role model for your peers. 

Jase O (Week 6) 

For his enthusiastic involvement and thoughtful contributions during our lessons. You confidently share your ideas and contribute to our class discussions. 

Sebastian A (Week 6) 
For the wonderful effort and patience you put into your Book Week narrative ‘Bill and Bob’s Adventure’. Well done! 

Important Dates

In the Spotlight / Overview

As we head into the final weeks of a massive Term 3, our students have been busy learning, competing and celebrating together! 

Our basketballers enjoyed a fantastic gala day at Parkdale Secondary College, while our Years 3–6 students tackled a challenging Maths Escape Room, putting their problem-solving and teamwork skills to the test. 

Our little athletes also represented MPPS proudly at the District Athletics Day at Dolamore Reserve on Thursday. They showed fantastic determination, sportsmanship and school spirit—we couldn’t be prouder! 

We also loved welcoming our dads, grandfathers and special people to our Father’s Day Breakfast, followed by a fun and friendly soccer game. It was a wonderful morning of connection, community and plenty of laughs! 

Literacy: We are learning to interpret the literal and inferred meanings of a poem 

Numeracy: We are learning to identify, convert and use units of measurement 

Science: We are learning to investigate endangered and critically endangered Australian animals  

Wellbeing: We are learning to understand the importance of seeing situations from others' perspectives  

Recognising TIER Role Models

Zach N - A thoughtful and caring student who shows kindness towards others and is making great progress. 

Kavya D - A diligent student who listens carefully, follows instructions and contributes to class discussions. 

In the Spotlight / Overview

Another fortnight filled with exciting sporting events, beginning with our Yr 5/6 Basketball Gala Day last week and concluding with Yr 3-6 District Athletics this week! Congratulations to all those who took part and participated in additional practices leading up to both days. We are incredibly proud of the way everyone represented MPPS and what a huge achievement for us to be able to send 20 students (2 teams) to Gala Day and 37 students to District Athletics. For all students in Yr 3-6, they welcomed Coach Olivia from McKinnon Basketball Association to continue building on their skills. 

Our Prep to Year 2 students have officially kicked off their exciting three-week Ultimate Frisbee program, successfully completing their very first action-packed session! Guided by expert coach Paul, our youngest athletes dove straight into learning the basics of throwing and catching through a series of fun, fast-paced games. Over the next two sessions, the students will continue to develop their hand-eye coordination and teamwork skills. A major focus of the clinic is the "Teamwork"—a core concept in Ultimate Frisbee that champions sportspersonship, fair play, and respect. It was wonderful to see so much enthusiasm and confidence on the field on day one, and we cannot wait to see their skills take flight over the coming weeks!

Reminders

PE Participation 
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.   

Ready for PE 
To keep our students safe and ready for action during PE, please ensure they come prepared with correct sports footwear, sunscreen applied, drink bottle and long hair tied back safely. Thank you for helping our Prep to Year 6 students stay safe, active, and sun-smart! 

P-2:  

• We are learning to develop the fundamental motor skills required for disc sports by learning how to track, catch, and throw a soft flying disc accurately. 

Yr 3-6:  

• We are learning to move into open space to help teammates pass or advance the ball. 

• We are learning to demonstrate fair play, sharing the ball rather than running alone. 

Recognising TIER Role Models

Week 7
Sofiia C – Demonstrating EXCELLENCE & RESILIENCE in PE. You have enthusiastically participated in all Basketball clinic sessions by engaging with your peers and giving everything a go. Superstar! 

Week 8 
Aidan VDW – Demonstrating EXCELLENCE & TEAMWORK in PE. Your participation in Ultimate Frisbee was sensational, showing how to safely pass the disc to a teammate with a direct and powerful spin. Amazing efforts! 

In the Spotlight / Overview

Last week the CBCA Book Week visual arts activity continued as students immersed themselves in a ‘Symphony of Stories’. This time the primary focus was adding our own whimsical and musical characters to our stunning backgrounds. 

Prep to Year 2 students designed and cut out their own musical characters. They carefully layered these figures over the striking white silhouettes they created the week prior, transforming those empty "stages" into lively, storytelling performance spaces. 

Year 5 & 6 students (Years 3 & 4 were absent at camp) finished experimenting with their watercolour backgrounds before beginning to focus on the final narrative elements of their textured landscapes. They used mixed media to construct and layer character silhouettes and musical motifs, trialling placement and depth to make their characters pop against the fluid watercolour washes. Most students will require additional time to finish creating and adding their characters. 

Across the school this week, we all worked on personalised keepsakes for Father’s and/or Special People in our lives. We hope everyone enjoys their day and gifts on Sunday! 

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 7 

P-2:  

• We are learning to design a story character by combining geometric and organic paper shapes. 

• We are learning to develop fine motor skills through gluing mixed-media items into a designated space. 

3-6: 

• We are learning to construct a distinct narrative character on a separate surface to manage scaling and proportions. 

• We are learning to apply collage layering techniques to seamlessly integrate a character into a pre-made background. 

• We are learning to utilize fine-liner markers to superimpose crisp line work over a painted medium. 

Week 8 

P-6:  

• We are learning to design and assemble a personalised, decorative photo frame as a Father's/Special Person’s Day gift. 

Recognising TIER Role Models

Week 7 
Artie – Demonstrating RESPECT and INTEGRITY in Art. By showing these values in the art room, you were able to work wonderfully without distraction, produce a very creative character and assist in ensuring the art room is set up for others. Superstar! 

Week 8 
Finn – Demonstrating RESPECT & EXCELLENCE in Art. You’ve been working hard on your creativity and were an absolute CHAMPION at helping clean and tidy the art room. Thank you for being a superstar helper! 

In the Spotlight / Overview

In Auslan, students across the school are building their fluency with fingerspelling and building their teamwork and Auslan social conventions skills by practising team and partner games such as memory, “missing what?”, bingo and mystery word/number. Students in F-2 are learning some food and drink signs and are working towards designing and describing a meal using food signs they have learnt in class. 

Students in 3/4 are building their confidence, fluency and receptive skills by watching, understanding and practising simple Deaf conversations about topics we have already learnt. Students in 3/4 are learning about HOLM and NMF features that give signs meaning. They are exploring handshapes (names for handshapes, similar to names for letters in English), orientation, location, movement and non-manual features (facial expression and description). Students in 5/6 are reviewing food and drink signs including fruit and vegetables, and some common meals for breakfast, lunch, dinner and desserts. 5/6 students will apply their understanding of signs and conversations by creating menus or grocery lists and practice their conversation skills by ordering items from a Auslan café/shop run by their peers.  

P: We are learning food and drink signs. 

1/2: We are learning food and drink signs 

3/4: We are learning about HOLM and NMF in Auslan. 

5/6: We are learning food and drink signs and ordering food in Auslan. 

Recognising TIER Role Models

Week 7
Leo K: Integrity, Teamwork, Respect, Excellence: For consistently showing all of our TIER values during Auslan this week. You showed great enthusiasm towards learning your fruit and vegetable signs and were respectful in all activities. Keep it up superstar! 

Week 8
Aisling CH: Respect, Integrity. For showing respect by including others in team activities to practice food signs, and showing integrity by following our Auslan routines without any reminders! 

Let’s practice some common food and meal signs!

In the Spotlight / Overview

P-2 

In Performing Arts students in F-2 have been continuing to learn how to join in with musical games and activities involving singing, acting and movement.  
Prep 

Foundation students continued to change the dynamics while singing ‘I have lost my closet key’ to give clues to the finder of a lost ‘key’. They are now able to complete the whole ‘Looby Loo’ song by moving safely, and explored other names which resulted in a discussion about why Looby Loo sounds best due to alliteration and rhyme. The students learned two more verses  to the ‘Little Cabin in the Wood’ involving a kangaroo hopping by and a snake slithering by. Then they acted out the role of the little man/lady and the rabbit, kangaroo or snake, imagining the cabin and the hunter, and showing how the characters were feeling. This was a great opportunity for students to learn empathy.  

Year 1 and 2 

Year 1 and 2 students continued to play ‘Cut the Cake’ and are developing their singing skills by singing without the teacher joining in. They learned two new verses to ‘Hickory Dickory Dock’, for instance ‘when the clock struck two, the mouse he flew’, ‘when the clock struck three, the mouse said whee’, and ‘when the clock struck four, there was no more’. That enabled them to complete four rotations so they each played tone/wood block, played triangle, performed the role of the clock and performed the role of the mouse. The students learned how to use mallets correctly to play the glockenspiel and rotated around the other instruments playing the beat in ‘The Animal Band’: the tambours, tambourines, guiros, maracas, rhythm sticks and triangles.  

Y3-6 

Students in Years 3 to 6 have been continuing with drama activities.  

Years 3 and 4 

In Week 7, Year 3 and 4 students didn’t have Performing Arts due to camp. In Week 8, the students independently created freeze frames showing the status of a given character, then with a partner created a freeze frame of a low status character and a high-status character of their own choice for the class to guess. Some students in 34B missed Performing Arts due to District Athletics. 

Years 5 and 6 

In Week 7, Year 5 and 6 students prepared a monologue to show a shift in status. In Week 8 students performed their monologue to the class and were given feedback. Some students in 56G missed Performing Arts due to District Athletics.  

Prep: To join in with musical games and songs. 

Year 1/2: To explore music in games and performances. 

Year 3/4: To understand the difference between high and low status. 

Year 5/6: To understand what a monologue and status are. 

Recognising TIER Role Models

Week 7
None given due to Ms Wheatley attending Y3/4 camp. 

Week 8:
Oscar S. 56D For performing a monologue that demonstrated a clear shift in status through the use of his voice and the space around him, and for memorising the script. 

Building Resilience Through Mindfulness 

As part of our work with The Resilience Project, we are continuing to explore simple ways to support our students’ wellbeing and help them develop skills for life. One of these important skills is mindfulness. 

Mindfulness is about being present and paying attention to what is happening right now. Rather than worrying about what happened yesterday or what might happen tomorrow, mindfulness encourages children to pause, notice their thoughts and feelings, and focus on the present moment. 

For our students, mindfulness can be as simple as taking a few slow breaths, noticing how their body feels, listening carefully to the sounds around them, or taking a moment to observe their thoughts without judging them. 

Why is mindfulness important? 

Children experience a wide range of emotions throughout the day. They may feel excited, frustrated, worried, disappointed or overwhelmed. Mindfulness gives children a tool they can use to pause and create a little space between what they are feeling and how they respond. 

With regular practice, mindfulness can help children: 

• recognise and understand their emotions 

• calm their bodies and minds when they feel overwhelmed 

• improve their focus and attention 

• respond thoughtfully rather than reacting impulsively 

• develop greater awareness of themselves and others 

• build positive habits that support their overall wellbeing. 

Mindfulness at home 

At school, we will continue to provide regular opportunities for students to practise mindfulness as part of our wellbeing learning. These small moments of pause can make a big difference, helping children develop the confidence and skills to navigate life's ups and downs. 

Remember: mindfulness isn't about having a completely quiet mind — it's about noticing, pausing and being present. 

Together, we can help our children build strong foundations for positive mental health, wellbeing and resilience. 

Kind regards, 

Zoe Guthrie 

Mental Health & Wellbeing Leader 

It's Coming in Term 4!

Our Colour Run is back! Get ready for one of the most exciting events of the year — more information will be distributed soon!

Carols on the Green – We Need Your Help! 

Thursday, 10 December | Carols on the Green

Our annual Carols on the Green is one of the highlights of the school year! Each year, our families come together for a wonderful evening of music, food, raffles, a silent auction and plenty of festive fun. 

This year, we’re once again raising funds towards our NEW PLAYGROUND, and we need the help of our amazing school community to make the night a success.

We Need Your Help!

We’re asking every family to reach out to local businesses, friends, family or community connections to see if they would be willing to donate an item, voucher or experience for our Silent Auction.

It could be anything from a gift voucher, experience or family activity to a product or service. Every donation, big or small, makes a difference.

All money raised from our Carols on the Green fundraising activities will go directly towards our NEW PLAYGROUND. 

Thank you, as always, for getting behind our school and helping us create something amazing for our students.

Let’s make this year’s Carols on the Green our biggest and best yet!

More details and volunteer opportunities coming soon!

 
EVERY DOLLAR COUNTS!

We are absolutely thrilled to share that we have received our first donations towards our NEW PLAYGROUND! 

A huge THANK YOU to the families who have already contributed. Your generosity means so much to us, and we truly can’t thank you enough.

As many of you know, our Student Representative Council (SRC) and students have been advocating for a new playground for our Year 3–6 students. The construction of our Junior Building four years ago significantly reduced the space available for our senior students, and we are now working towards creating a modern, engaging playgroundthat encourages physical activity, social connection and imaginative play.

Our students will have an important role in helping shape the new playground, including having a say in the equipment and features they would love to see.

How Can You Help?

Our school community is dedicating all fundraising from school events towards the NEW PLAYGROUND, but we would also love families who are able to make a personal contribution to help us reach our goal.

Every dollar counts! Whether it is $5, $20, $50 or more, every donation brings us one step closer to making this vision a reality.

If you would like to make a donation, please use the following details:

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

If you have already made a donation, THANK YOU! 

We would love to see our whole community get behind this exciting project. Together, we can create an incredible new space that our students will enjoy for many years to come.

Let’s keep the momentum going – our NEW PLAYGROUND starts with us!

Friday 18th September – Last Day of Term 2.30pm finish
Saturday 17th October – Bunnings BBQ