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.

Welcome back to Term 4! 

I hope everyone enjoyed a relaxing and refreshing holiday break and is feeling ready for another exciting term of learning and fun. 

Explore Friday’s 
Following the positive response to the introduction of Explore Friday in Term 3, I am pleased that we are continuing this in Term 4. Students have enjoyed the opportunity to explore new interests, develop skills and engage in a range of activities beyond their usual classroom learning. 

Explore Friday began this afternoon with a range of new activities. These activities were selected in response to student feedback gathered by students sharing their thoughts on previous sessions and suggested activities they would like to see this term. 

Explore Friday will continue on a fortnightly basis, alternating with our school assemblies. 

Kingston Division Athletics 
Last Thursday, Abby and Jett, both in Grade 5, proudly represented MPPS at the Kingston Division Athletics competition held at Duncan Mackinnon Athletics Track. Abby competed in shot put, while Jett competed in triple jump. We are proud of your efforts, your willingness to challenge yourselves and the way you represented our schoo! 

Bunnings BBQ- this Saturday 17 October 
Our school Bunnings BBQ is on this Saturday at Mentone Bunnings. We encourage our families to pop down, grab a sausage and support our school. Every purchase helps! 

Student Appointments 
As we settle into another busy term, I would like to remind families, where possible, to schedule appointments outside school hours. Time away from school can interrupt students’ learning and cause them to miss important classroom activities and learning opportunities. We appreciate your support in helping students make the most of every school day. 

Term 4 is always a busy and exciting time, with many wonderful learning opportunities and events planned by our teachers. Please check the Term 4 Calendar on Compass to keep up to date with upcoming activities, important dates and school events. 

Thank you for your continued support. I look forward to a positive and productive Term 4. 

King regards, 

Leisa 

Dear Parents, Guardians and Caregivers, 

I hope you and your families are all well and that Term 4 has begun smoothly for you! 

Australian Mathematics Competition – Results & Certificates 

Congratulations to all 37 students who participated in this year’s Australian Mathematics Competition (AMC)! We were delighted to recognise their efforts and achievements by presenting certificates at our final assembly for Term 3 on Friday 18th of September. 

Of our 37 participants, 19 students received Proficiency or Participation certificates, while an impressive 10 students achieved Credit certificates, placing them in the top 55% of students in their age group and region. A further 7 students earned Distinction certificates, placing them in the top 20%, and 1 student achieved a High Distinction certificate, placing them in the top 3%! 

We are incredibly proud of all 37 students for choosing to challenge themselves and extend their mathematical thinking through this prestigious national competition. The AMC provides a wonderful opportunity for students to apply their problem-solving skills, think creatively and tackle mathematical challenges beyond their everyday classroom learning. 

Well done to everyone involved - we look forward to seeing even more students take up the challenge in 2027!  

Explore Fridays – Term 4 

We are excited for another term of Explore Fridays, providing students with opportunities to try something new, explore their interests, develop new skills and connect with students from across the school. These sessions will continue to run fortnightly on Friday afternoons, alternating with our whole-school assemblies. 

Following our Term 3 Explore Friday activities, students from Prep to Year 6 completed a short survey to share their feedback and suggest activities they would like to explore in Term 4. It was fantastic to see student voice in action, with their feedback directly informing the activities our staff have developed for this term! 

Students have now selected their preferred activities from a range of exciting options, with the following running throughout Term 4: 

• Prep–Year 2: Cooking, Origami, Soccer, and Dance & Drama Play. 

• Year 3–6: Cooking, Coding, Soccer, and Volleyball. 

While we have endeavoured to accommodate student preferences, placements are dependent on group sizes and availability. 

One of the wonderful aspects of Explore Fridays is that students participate in their chosen activity across the term, allowing them to build their skills, develop friendships with students beyond their usual classroom and perhaps even discover a new passion! 

We look forward to another fantastic term of Explore Fridays and seeing our students enthusiastically embrace these opportunities! 

Yours sincerely, 

Nathan Hutchins 

Assistant Principal 

Important Dates

In the Spotlight / Overview

Welcome back to school for Term 4! We hope you all enjoyed a relaxing and refreshing break and are ready for an exciting final term of the year. Our Prep students have grown so much already, and this term promises to be packed with wonderful learning experiences, special celebrations, and plenty of fun as we wrap up their very first year of school. We look forward to working together with our families to finish the year on a high note! 

Body Safe Australia 
We are pleased to partner with Body Safe Australia this term to deliver their highly acclaimed, age-appropriate education programs on body safety, respectful relationships, and body autonomy to all students. These vital sessions are designed to empower our children with the practical knowledge and skills they need to protect themselves, confidently communicate their personal boundaries, and respect the boundaries of others. 

Our Prep students will participate in the Superstars program, which consists of two one-hour sessions held at school on Thursday 15 October and Thursday 22 October. 

• Session 1 focuses on emotional literacy, helping students identify their own feelings, read verbal and physical cues in others, and practice assertive communication regarding who touches their body. 

• Session 2 covers body safety, teaching students to identify private parts using correct anatomical terms, understand appropriate touch, distinguish between secrets and surprises, and confidently reach out to their network of safe adults for help. 

Your support in reinforcing these messages at home is invaluable, and we encourage you to engage in conversations with your child about what they’ve learned after their sessions. Thank you for your ongoing partnership in ensuring a safe and supportive learning environment for all our students. 

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!  

Hats & Sunscreen 
Term 4 is one of our SunSmart terms. Please ensure your child’s hat is labelled and that they have sunscreen applied BEFORE coming to school. There are opportunities later in the day for students to reapply. The weather looks lovely this weekend, perhaps practice applying the correct amount together!  

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.  

What’s been happening in Prep 

Writing 
We’ve turned into sentence detectives! We’ve learnt that a sentence needs a who, like ‘the dog’, and a what they’re doing, like ‘ran’. If one of those bits is missing, it’s called a fragment, and we’ve been fixing them up. For example, ‘ran to the shop’ becomes ‘Mum ran to the shop.’ 

We’re also remembering that every sentence starts with a capital letter and ends with a full stop, question mark or exclamation mark:  I got a cat. What pet did you get? I love cats! 

We’ve been reading Are We There Yet? by Alison Lester and following Grace’s family on a big road trip around Australia. We made story maps to retell the beginning (packing up and saying goodbye to Nan and Poppa), the middle (whales, deserts, snow and big cities) and the end (heading home). Now we’re adding adjectives, to make our writing more interesting. 'The kangaroo jumped' became 'The big, brown kangaroo jumped!'. 

InitiaLit 
We’ve learnt two new sounds: th as in thumb and wh as in whale. We’ve also learnt the tricky words like, very, what and where. Tricky words are ones we can’t easily sound out, so we practise them until we know them by sight. Thank you for practising them at home, additionally you could also go on a hunt for tricky words in a bedtime story.  

Maths 
This fortnight has been all about location, and there’s been lots of moving around! We hid toys around the classroom and described where they were (under the chair, next to the bag). We rolled dice and moved along game boards, danced using left, right, forwards and backwards, and followed directions on treasure maps to find hidden treasure. 

We’ve also started learning ordinal numbers, the words we use for order, like first, second, third and last.  

Science 
This fortnight we began our Chemistry unit on Materials! We’ve looked at what everyday objects are made of, like wood, metal, plastic and paper, and tested how they look and feel. Are they bendy, strong, smooth or shiny? We talked about why things are made from certain materials. For example, a lunchbox is made of plastic, not paper, because it needs to be strong and waterproof. 

We also found that some objects combine more than one material for a reason. A hammer has a metal head to hit hard and a rubber handle so it’s comfy to hold. Our classroom tables are made of metal, and wood, and each part has its own job. 

Humanities 
We’ve been learning that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples are the First Peoples of Australia. Our school is on the land of the Bunurong People, and we drew pictures of the land, sea, sky, plants and animals we can see near our school. First Nations Peoples have lived here for more than 60,000 years and have one of the oldest living cultures in the world. We learnt that Country means much more than land. It includes the water, sky, animals, plants, stories and people. These cultures are still alive and strong today, with people speaking their languages and caring for Country. 

We’re also learning that some places in Australia are sacred. This means they are very special and important to First Nations Peoples, have their own stories, and should always be treated with respect. Uluru is one example. 

Wellbeing – Social Stencil  
We’ve been exploring The Brain Forest. Just like every tree in a forest is different, every brain is different and unique, and that’s okay! Some of us love busy, noisy places and some of us like it calm and quiet. Some of us learn best by moving and some by listening. Our brains are just right for us. 

We’ve also been learning about our personal bubble. This is the space around our body, and we get to decide how big it is and who is allowed in each layer. For example, a hug from family might be close in, a high five from a friend a bit further out, and someone we don’t know stays outside the bubble. We’re also practising respecting other people’s bubbles.  

Recognising TIER Role Models

August  
For being a respectful and active participant in our class discussions, always listening carefully to questions and sharing his thoughtful ideas! 

Hugo W  
For always listening carefully, following instructions and trying his very best to produce work he can be proud of. Well done, Hugo! 

Important Dates

In the Spotlight / Overview

Welcome to Term 4 

Welcome back to Term 4! We hope all our students and families enjoyed a relaxing break and are ready for another exciting term of learning and fun. 

We have lots to look forward to this term as students continue to build their skills, grow in confidence and work towards their learning goals. In the Junior School, we will be exploring new topics across our curriculum, sharing our learning and celebrating the many achievements of our students. 

We look forward to a fantastic final term together! 

Body Safe Sessions 

This week, our students participated in their first Body Safe Australia – Unique You session. Across three sessions, students will develop their understanding of body safety, body autonomy, respectful relationships and how to seek help when needed. 

The three sessions will explore: 

• Session 1 – Families and Safe Adults: Celebrating similarities and differences between families and identifying five trusted adults students can turn to for help. 

• Session 2 – Body Safety and Consent: Learning about private, public and personal body parts, necessary touch and respecting personal boundaries. 

• Session 3 – Babies, Birth and Families: Learning about babies, birth and the different ways children become part of a family. 

For Session 3, students are welcome to bring in one photo or special item from when they first joined their family to share with their peers. 

Reminders

Carols on the Green 
We are very excited for Carols on the Green! Students have been busy preparing for their performance during Performing Arts, and we can’t wait to share their hard work with our school community. 

Information about what your child will need to wear for the performance will be shared soon. 

If your child will not be performing at Carols on the Green, please let your child’s classroom teacher know. 

Colour Run 
Get ready to get colourful! Our Colour Fun Run is coming up on Friday 23 October, and we are looking forward to a fun-filled day! 

Please remember to send your child to school wearing a white T-shirt so the colours really POP!  

Please also ensure you have provided consent and purchased your child’s $10 entry ticket through Compass. 

We can’t wait for a colourful day of fun! 

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! 

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 expand simple sentences using adverbs and fronted adverbials, including factual sentences about Australia. We have also been learning to identify and use possessive adjectives. 

  
InitiaLit: 

• Year 1:  

• We have been learning the digraphs ‘oy’ as in boy, ‘oi’ as in coin, ‘ear’ as in ear and ‘eer’ as in cheer. We have also been learning about contractions and the suffix ‘-ly’, which turns words into adverbs. 

• Our tricky words have included only, great and their. 

• We have enjoyed our storybook ‘The Story About Ping’ by Marjorie Flack, which includes the WOW words pale, dash and swiftly. Thank you to the Washington family for donating this book! 

• Year 2:  

• We have been learning about irregular past tense verbs and future tense verbs, ‘g’ saying /j/ as in giant (ge, gi, gy), and the silent letters ‘k’ as in knee and ‘b’ as in lamb. 

• Our comprehension strategy has been ‘main idea and summarising’. 

• Our tricky words have included remember, other and another. 

• We have enjoyed our storybook ‘The Day the Crayons Came Home’ by Drew Daywalt, which includes the wow words damaged , survived and horrified. Thank you to Putt family for donating both of our copies of this book! 

  
Numeracy: 

• In our current unit on location, we have been using ordinal numbers to identify position and giving and following directions using directional language, written instructions and symbols. We have been creating simple maps from models, describing the position of key features on a map, and moving around a grid using directional instructions. We have also been applying CUBES strategies to solve worded problems. 

  
Humanities (Geography of Australia): 

• We are learning to label the six states and two territories of Australia. 

• We are learning to explain why the population of each Australian state and territory is different. 

Recognising TIER Role Models

Kate W for being a wonderful role model for her classmates. You set a great example and help others achieve their best! 

Giacomo B for a wonderful job following and writing directions, counting steps, and identifying turns. Keep up the amazing work in Maths! 

Important Dates

In the Spotlight / Overview

Democracy, Community & Me Incursion 

Year 3/4 students had a fantastic time taking part in the Democracy, Community and Me incursion! They explored how Australian democracy works, learnt about rules, laws and the three levels of government, and experienced preferential voting through a mock election. Students then stepped into the roles of mayor, councillors and community members during a council meeting role-play, where they discussed local issues, shared their ideas, debated different viewpoints and worked together to make decisions. It was a fun and engaging, hands-on experience that brought democracy to life and helped students understand how they can contribute to their local community! 

Body Safe Sessions 

We attended our first BodySafe session on Thursday. Topics we will be covering over the weekly one-hour sessions include: 

• Families: What makes a family and what is their role? 

• Bodies: Naming private parts and reproductive body parts 

• Babies: Conception, foetal development and birth 

• Puberty: Physical and emotional changes 

Body Safe Australia, a leading organisation specialising in age-appropriate education on body safety, respectful relationships, and body autonomy is committed to keeping children and young people safe. These sessions are designed to empower children with the knowledge and skills they need to protect themselves, communicate their boundaries and respect others. 

Bike Ed program 

The Bike Ed program, a part of the school curriculum, will be taught in Term 4. The program will be delivered as 4 x one-hour sessions during PE lessons (on Mondays).  

Cycling builds confidence, coordination, independence and lifelong safety skills. The Bike Ed program will be delivered by accredited instructors from Bike Skills who blend real-world road safety, hands-on riding and fun challenges so students ride safely, confidently and responsibly. 

Students will learn about key road rules and navigating shared paths safely, practical riding skills including scanning, signalling and obstacle navigation and will develop bike handling & control through obstacle courses and track riding. 

Dates: On Mondays: 26th Oct, 2nd Nov, 9th Nov and 16th Nov. 

Please see the Compass event or contact Maddie Oates for further details. 

Reminders

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). 

Explore Friday 

Our first Explore Friday for Term 4 began on Friday afternoon, giving our students the opportunity to explore, discover and enjoy some different activities. 

Literacy: We have begun our new novel study of 'Kensuke's Kingdom', and reviewed the structure of a persuasive text. 

In SpellEx, Year 3 students have been learning about the prefixes 'mis', 'un', 'dis', 'in', 'im' and 'il', and how these change a word. 

Year 4 students have been learning about prefixes that tell us the position of something, including ‘in/im’, ‘ex/e’, ‘sub’, ‘super, ‘pre’, ‘post’ and ‘mid’. 

Numeracy: We have been learning to interpret maps and give directions. We have also begun identifying, describing, and comparing the properties of 3D shapes.  

Wellbeing – The Resilience Project 

In our “Resilience Project” lessons we have been learning how positive self-talk and pep talks can promote emotional regulation, enhance our self-esteem and enhance resilience. 

Civic & Citizenship: We have been learning to compare and contrast life in Sparta and Athens and discuss their rivalry. We have also defined some different types of government (monarchy, democracy, theocracy, dictatorship). 

Science: We considered why foods are packaged in different materials, and investigated our own lunchboxes. 

Recognising TIER Role Models

Congratulations to our most recent TIER Role Models! 

Caitlin W (Term 4 Week 10) 

For her wonderful efforts during Maths and for the positive attitude and enthusiasm she always brings to class. Well done, Caitlin! 

Miko I (Term 4 Week 10) 

For showing fantastic growth in your learning! You have actively engaged in lessons, and begun confidently asking for help when you need it. Well done! 

Hutch G (Term 4 Week 1) 

For your sensible and respectful behaviour, and the effort you put into your learning while Mrs Haig was teaching 3/4G. 

Evelina B (Term 4 Week 1) 

For your fantastic work in Novel Study this week. You have shown a great understanding of statement, question, command, and exclamation sentences. 

Important Dates

In the Spotlight / Overview

We've had a busy and exciting first two weeks of Term 4, with lots of new learning and activities underway! 

A huge congratulations to Abby and Jett, who represented our school at Division Athletics. This is an amazing achievement, and we are incredibly proud of their efforts! 

In Science, we have begun exploring the human body, learning about the different body systems and how they work together. In Humanities, we have started our new Civics and Citizenship unit, investigating the differences between laws and rules and why they are important in our society. 

Our Year 6 students have begun preparing for their upcoming graduation, while the Year 5 students have launched an exciting Mini Town project! Students will work together to create and run their very own town, beginning with applying for different jobs and responsibilities within their community. 

In Literacy, we have started our Term 4 novel study, Nevermoor. It has already proven to be an exciting and engaging read, with plenty of mystery and adventure to keep us hooked! 

It's been a wonderful start to what promises to be a busy and memorable final term

Reminders

Year 6 Graduation: 

• 2027 Grade 6 garments are now available to order. Sample garments are available to try on in the school office between 8:45am-4:30pm. ORDERS CLOSE FRIDAY 23rd OCT 4PM

• Graduation Video and Presentation Slideshow, we will need: 

• A baby photo 

• A Prep/Foundation photo 

Homework: 
Reading at least 3 nights per week and completing assigned Mathletics tasks. 

Events: 
Division Cricket students need to make their own way to the venue.  

Literacy: We are learning to vary our sentence openings to make our writing more interesting and engaging. 

Numeracy: We are learning to represent data in different ways and develop appropriate questions to collect data. 

Humanities: We are learning to identify and explain the differences between laws and rules. 

Wellbeing: We are learning to recognise and understand the differences between emotions, moods and feelings. 

Recognising TIER Role Models

Samia R – Demonstrating a positive attitude and strong work ethic. Has shown wonderful improvement across all areas of learning and should be proud of his progress. 

Myla H – Brings a fun and energetic presence to the classroom. A hardworking student who continues to grow in confidence and embrace new challenges. 

Avey D – Returning with a positive attitude to her final term at MPPS and displaying excellence in both her classroom behaviour and work ethic 

In the Spotlight / Overview

In Auslan, we are starting to put our learning and understanding together by telling stories using Auslan. Students in F-2 will be building their comprehension of Auslan by watching and discussing short video stories from Auslan Bluey, Storybox hub and ABC Education Storytime. 

Students in 3-6 were reflecting on their holiday break by watching, signing and sharing what activities the teacher and we as themselves enjoyed over the break. It was great to see the students enthusiastic with their team during our ‘Scattergories’  game, where they had 1 minute to list as many signs as possible, that included a specific handshape. 

This term we are having a handshape of the week, with week 1- ‘round’ handshape, and week 2- ‘good’ handshape.  

Prep: We are reflecting and sharing about our holiday break. We are learning to tell stories in Auslan. 

1/2: We are reflecting and sharing about our holiday break. We are learning to tell stories in Auslan. 

3/4: We are reflecting and sharing about our holiday break. We are learning food signs. 

5/6: We are reflecting and sharing about our holiday break. We are learning to tell and translate stories in Auslan. 

Recognising TIER Role Models

Week 1:
Zach M: Excellence, Integrity. For showing great enthusiasm and focus when signing about his holiday break. You were a great role model this week as we built on our Auslan routines! 

Week 2:
Aidan S: Excellence, Respect. For demonstrating great focus and effort when storytelling signing this week. You showed great respect to yourself, your learning and to others. Well done! 

In the Spotlight / Overview

The art room has been a buzz of creativity over the last fortnight as our P-6 artists explored portraiture, proportion, and artistic expression. Students across all year levels have been busy using mirrors, practicing precision drawing, and experimenting with different mediums to capture their own unique selves. 

Our P-2 artists have been focusing on facial features, line textures, and bold contrasts. 

• Blowing Motions: Students used mirrors to observe how their mouths change shape when blowing a bubble, learning to draw large oval heads with a clear, puckered "O" for the lips before carefully tracing their work.
• Expressive Collages: The children experimented with expressive lines (like coils and zigzags) to create textured hair. They practiced firm colouring for bright, solid skin tones and clothes, and carefully cut out their characters to layer them onto contrasting paper backgrounds.

Our 3-6 students challenged themselves by balancing realistic anatomy rules with bold, abstract art styles. 

• Facial Proportions: Students learned how to map out accurate facial features on an egg-shaped head. They used a guideline method to discover that eyes sit halfway down the face and used mirrors to capture their own unique eye shapes and hair textures.
• Breaking the Rules: Inspired by Cubism and Fauvism, students then intentionally "deconstructed" the face. They combined different viewpoints (like a profile nose on a front-facing head) and chose emotional, non-realistic colour palettes to represent an inner mood. They did a fantastic job applying heavy pressure and blending techniques with oil pastels for vibrant, saturated finishes.

Stay tuned as we continue working on these portrait projects, ready for display! 

Reminders

Art Smocks 
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.  

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! 

Week 1 

P-2:  

• We are learning to look closely at our faces and use geometric shapes to draw a profile portrait showing a blowing motion. 

3-6: 

• We are learning to map out accurate facial proportions using a guideline method so that we understand where features sit on a human skull. 

Week 2 

P-2: 

• We are learning to create visual contrast and texture in a portrait by using expressive lines, solid colouring, and a paper collage background. 

3-6: 

• We are learning to deconstruct the human face and use non-realistic colour choices to express a specific inner mood, using the styles of Cubism and Fauvism as our inspiration. 

Recognising TIER Role Models

Week 1
Eric – Demonstrating EXCELLENCE in Art! You did a wonderful job of mapping out your facial features so that they were in proportion. Superstar! 

Week 2
Dhaanya – Demonstrating EXCELLENCE & RESPECT in Art. Every week you work diligently to produce beautiful artwork while also consistently extending respect to all those around you. Amazing efforts! 

In the Spotlight / Overview

It has been a busy and active start to the term in PE as our students developed their coordination, teamwork, and game strategies across two exciting units! While the Melbourne weather may have not always agreed with us, our students have persevered as P-2 completed their unit on Ultimate Frisbee and then began Cricket along with the rest of the school. 

Cricket is a fantastic sport for building essential physical literacy. Over the coming weeks, our lessons will focus on mastering several core movement skills: 

• Object Control Skills: Students will refine their catching, two-handed striking, and both underarm and overarm throwing techniques. 

• Locomotor Skills: Active gameplay will challenge students to improve their running, side-galloping, and rapid change of direction. 

• Stability & Coordination: Balance, hand-eye coordination, and spatial awareness will be at the centre of every fielding and batting activity. 

These are achieved through fun structured, age-appropriate cricket games and drills. Instead of photos, some QR codes have been included below to encourage students and their families to be active together at home! 

A huge congratulations to Abby and Jett from 5/6C who both attended Division Athletics last week to compete in shot put and triple jump respectively. We are so proud of your athletic achievements and the way you represented MPPS! 

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! 

Yr 3-6 Bike Ed. 

Bike Education is beginning in week 4 for all students in Years 3-6 during their PE lessons. All information can be found via the Compass event. Please ensure you have provided consent and completed the questions regarding equipment and current skills. If you don't have access to a bike, that is ok! We can borrow one from the provider. 

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! 

Week 1 

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 work in collaboration with others when further developing various movement skills connected to Striking and Fielding Games. 

Week 2 

P-2:  

• We are learning the movement skills connected to cricket. 

Yr 3-6:  

• We are learning to strike a ball into gaps when batting and restrict the batters from scoring runs when fielding. 

Recognising TIER Role Models

Week 1
Nia – Demonstrating RESPECT in PE. Consistently you show this to all by being polite, inclusive and ready to learn. Well done, Superstar! 

Week 2
Zach N – Demonstrating TEAMWORK & EXCELLENCE in PE! You collaborated wonderfully with others to further develop movement skills connected to cricket. Superstar! 

In the Spotlight / Overview

Preps 
Prep students looked at a picture of Santa then described his appearance, such as a long white beard, black boots, a red suit, a big red nose, and a red cap. This prepared them for the lyrics in a song they will perform at the Carols on the Green. The students also discussed what they do to celebrate Christmas and how music and dance feature in celebrations. The students then listened to the song before singing along and learning some movements.  

Information will be shared regarding what your child needs to wear for their performance. Please let your child, your child’s classroom teacher, or me know, if your child won’t be performing at the Carols on the Green.  

Year 1 and 2 
The Year 1 and 2 students were so excited to find out their song for the Carols on the Green. They discussed what they do to celebrate Christmas and how music and dance feature in celebrations. The students listened to the song then discussed the meaning of any lyrics that were unfamiliar to them before they sang along and learned some movements.  

Information will be shared regarding what your child needs to wear for their performance. Please let your child, your child’s classroom teacher, or me know, if your child won’t be performing at the Carols on the Green.  

Year 3 and 4 
The Year 3 and 4 students explored some context of their song for the Carols on the Green, such as where it originated, it’s genre, and the type of dancing that is usually performed with it. They discussed why the music might have been created and for which cultures, places and times. The students listened to the song then discussed the meaning of any lyrics that were unfamiliar to them before they sang along and learned some movements.  

Information will be shared regarding what your child needs to wear for their performance. Please let your child, your child’s classroom teacher, or me know, if your child won’t be performing at the Carols on the Green.  

Year 5 and 6 
The Year 5 and 6 students explored some context of a song they are performing for the Carols on the Green, such as when and where it originated. They listened to the song then learned botanical information and mythological information about ‘mistletoe’, and the meaning of the word ‘hop’ in the context it was used in the song. They discussed why the music might have been created and for which cultures, places and times. The students then sang along and learned some movements.  

Information will be shared regarding what your child needs to wear for their performance. Please let your child, your child’s classroom teacher, or me know, if your child won’t be performing at the Carols on the Green.  

P-6 I am learning how to perform in the Carols on the Green. 

Recognising TIER Role Models

Week 1: Aisha Z PH (excellence and integrity) Aisha gave her best effort when learning the movements for her class performance in Performing Arts and also used her facial expressions to communicate feelings to her audience.  

Week 2: Lena Z 12D (teamwork and excellence) Lena demonstrated teamwork by reminding the class when to swap lines during a rehearsal, and dances to the best of her ability in every rehearsal.  

Restorative Chats: Helping Children Learn, Reflect and Reconnect 

At our school, we want every child to feel safe, respected and connected. We know that, just like adults, children sometimes make mistakes, have disagreements or find it difficult to manage their emotions. These moments are important opportunities for learning. 

One approach we use to support students is restorative chats. 

What is a restorative chat? 

A restorative chat is a calm and supportive conversation that helps children think about what happened, who was affected and what can be done to make things right. 

Rather than simply focusing on what rule was broken or who was at fault, restorative chats encourage students to take responsibility, listen to others and consider how their actions may have affected someone else. 

A staff member might ask questions such as: 

• What happened? 

• What were you thinking or feeling at the time? 

• Who has been affected? 

• How do you think they might be feeling? 

• What could you do to help make things better? 

• What can we do differently next time? 

Why do we use restorative chats? 

Restorative chats help children develop important lifelong skills, including: 

• Taking responsibility for their choices and actions. 

• Understanding other people's perspectives and feelings. 

• Solving problems in a respectful way. 

• Managing conflict and repairing relationships. 

• Making positive choices in the future. 

The goal is not to shame or punish a child. Instead, we want students to understand the impact of their behaviour and learn how to repair relationships when things have gone wrong. 

What might this look like? 

Imagine two students have an argument in the playground. Rather than simply telling them to say sorry and move on, a staff member may speak with each child and then, when appropriate, bring them together for a restorative conversation. 

Each child has an opportunity to explain what happened and listen to the other person's perspective. Together, they can work out what needs to happen next — perhaps an apology, an agreement about how they will treat each other, or another action that helps repair the situation. 

Sometimes a restorative chat is very brief. At other times, a more detailed conversation is needed. The approach is always guided by the children's age, needs and the circumstances involved. 

Our Restorative Chat Prompt 

Here is a visual that teachers and students use as a prompt during restorative chats. 

 How can families support restorative practices? 

You can use similar questions at home when your child has experienced a disagreement or made a mistake. Try asking, "What happened?" rather than immediately asking, "Who started it?" 

You might also ask: 

"How do you think the other person felt?" 

"What could you do to make things better?" 

"What could you do differently next time?" 

These questions help children move beyond blame and towards understanding, responsibility and problem-solving. 

At school, we believe mistakes are opportunities to learn. Through restorative chats, we are helping our students develop the skills and confidence they need to build positive relationships, resolve conflict and contribute to a caring school community. 

Kind regards, 

Zoe Guthrie 

Mental Health & Wellbeing Leader 

THIS SATURDAY IS THE DAY! 

Come down and visit our wonderful volunteers this Saturday, grab a snag (or 5!) and help support our school.

All funds raised will go towards our new playground, so every snag makes a difference!

Thank you to everyone for your wonderful support — we really appreciate it!

COLOUR FUN RUN – THE COUNTDOWN IS ON! 

Get ready to get messy, colourful and have SO much fun! 

The Colour Fun Run is coming up, and we’ve got a little extra motivation for our amazing fundraisers…

RAISE $50 OR MORE = GO INTO THE DRAW TO SLIME MR HUTCHINS! 

That’s right… one lucky student will get to cover Mr Hutchins in slime! 

HAVEN’T STARTED FUNDRAISING YET?
Jump onto www.myprofilepage.com.au, register your child and start sharing their fundraising page with family and friends.

Every donation helps our school, and the more you raise, the more chances you have to earn those fundraising rewards!

DON’T FORGET YOUR ENTRY!
If you haven’t already, head to Compass to provide consent and purchase your child’s $10 Colour Fun Run entry ticket.

LUNCH ORDERS
Lunch orders are now open through QKR. Don’t forget to get your orders in!

WE NEED YOUR HELP!
We need volunteers to help run the BBQ on the day. We really need enough helpers to make the BBQ work, otherwise unfortunately we may have to cancel it.

If you can spare some time, even for a short shift, we would really appreciate your help! ❤️
Sign up here: https://signup.com/go/eVsFSwm

WHAT TO WEAR:
Please send your child along in a white T-shirt so those colours really POP! 

And sadly, Ms Higgins will be missing out on all the fun this year as she’ll be interstate at a wedding… so Mr Hutchins is officially our slime target! 

Let’s make this our biggest, brightest and messiest Colour Fun Run yet! 

Get fundraising, get your white T-shirt ready and let’s get colourful!

2027 GRADE 6 GRAD ORDERS ARE NOW OPEN! 

It’s time to get excited! Our brand-new 2027 Grade 6 garments are now available to order! ❤️?

Our future Grade 6 students can now order their special Grad Sub Polo and Hoody — the perfect way to celebrate their final year at Mentone Park Primary School.

Want to check the sizing first?
Sample garments are available to try on in the school office between 8:45am–4:30pm.

ORDERS CLOSE: FRIDAY 23 OCTOBER AT 4:00PM

Please don’t leave your order until the last minute!
There is an estimated 16-week production turnaround, so ordering early is important to make sure your Grad Wear arrives in time.

Order your Grad Sub Polo:
https://psw.com.au/collections/mentone-park-primary-school/products/s-s-sublimated-polo-99?variant=44474183942222

Order your Grad Hoody:
https://psw.com.au/collections/mentone-park-primary-school/products/hooded-windcheater-contrast-hood-insert-17?variant=44474183680078

We can’t wait to see our 2027 Grade 6 students proudly wearing their Grad Wear as they head into their final year! 

School Choir 

We are very excited to announce that our Choir is 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, Lu, 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.

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

Dance is Here

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:

Prep – Grade 2: Tuesdays at lunchtime in the hall

Grades 3 – 6: Fridays 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 to secure your child’s place.

HURRY PAYMENT CLOSES MONDAY 19th OCT

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

Every Friday lunchtime during Term 4, students can purchase a $1 icy pole. All money raised goes towards celebrating our 2026 graduating class! 

If you are able to please donate a packet of Zooper Dooper's to support our fundraiser, it would be greatly appreciated. Donations can be left at the office.

Remembrance Day Poppy Appeal

With Remembrance Day approaching, we are proud to support the Poppy Appeal, helping to remember and honour those who have served and sacrificed for our country.

A range of Poppy Appeal items, including badges, pens and arm bands, are now available to purchase from the school office, with prices ranging from $2 to $20.

Every purchase helps support the important work of the Poppy Appeal and provides an opportunity for our school community to show our respect and remembrance.

Thank you for your support.

Silent Auction Donations

Our much-loved Carols on the Green is fast approaching, and we are putting together a Silent Auction to help raise vital funds for Mentone Park Primary School. This is one of our biggest community events of the year — and we’d love your support to make it shine!

We’re reaching out to our amazing school community to help us secure donations. Whether you’re a local business owner, work for a company that gives back, or simply have connections around Bayside, we’d be incredibly grateful for any help you can offer.

How you can help:
 • If you have a business in mind that might donate, feel free to pop in and collect a formal school donation request letter from the office.
• You’re welcome to approach businesses, clubs, gyms, cafés, salons, sports centres, or workplaces — anywhere that might want to support our students.
• Donations big or small are welcome: vouchers, hampers, products, services, experiences, memberships, or items we can bundle into themed prize packs.

Your contribution helps us raise funds to support school programs, resources, and opportunities for our MPPS students — and it also highlights the wonderful community spirit we’re so proud of.

If you, your workplace, or someone you know can donate, please get in touch with Louise – Office Manager, or drop donations directly into the school office.

Let’s come together and make this year’s Carols on the Green truly unforgettable — celebrating community, generosity, and festive fun.

 
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