May 5.............Education Policy sub-committee (postponed, date TBD)
May 12...........School Council 6.30pm (on-line)
May 29...........Pupil Free Day (TBC)
June 2............Education Policy sub-committee (on-line)
June 8............Queens Birthday Holiday
June 9............School Council 6.30pm (on-line)
June 26 Term 2 ends 1.30pm
A Message From Our Principal
Welcome to week 3 of term 2. Our flexible and remote learning program continues to evolve and I thank our students, staff and families for your ongoing support through these challenging times.
A highlight for me in my beginning weeks has been working with our student leadership team. Their commitment to our school and the positive example they set to their peers is exemplary. I have met the team both via phone and video conference already and today they have contributed a ‘Captain’s Report’ article to our newsletter. Winnie, Sam, April and Lucas, thank you for your commitment, compassion and creativity.
Feedback from students, staff and families continues to support our flexible and remote learning program. In working with staff and various tiers of leadership this week, our focus remains on providing a consistent and balanced program. The growth of the program in the next period will include:
A continued focus on utilising ‘Google Meets’ as a live online platform for connecting with small groups of students.
Integrating our spelling approach into the weekly learning program.
Trialling iMaths as an online learning tool to support our numeracy program.
Our school continues to evolve, with much exciting work being undertaken currently. This includes:
Installation of new projection screens in classrooms,
Completion of minor works to our new gymnasium,
Addition of a new set of ‘Chromebook’ computers,
General maintenance of all buildings and grounds.
Over the next week, significant landscaping works will begin as part of the ‘Pick My Project’ funding process. We are excited to continue building an outstanding learning environment for our students.
Two brief notes to finish on:
I hope our students and families were able to make the most of the weather earlier in the week and have a go at the ‘hopscotch fitness challenge’.
As you may have already seen via my earlier Compass message, I will be hosting a ‘question and answer’ session for students, staff and families as my Monday morning video message next week.
Thank you for your ongoing support and keep doing your best,
Rohan.
A Message From Our Council President
Whilst it’s been tough for everyone, it has been great to see how the community has rallied to support each other.
On Friday, the teachers and staff surprised us all with a fantastic video. I know the staff have been missing their students and students would have enjoyed seeing their teachers. It was an uplifting way to end the week – I had Elton John in my head all weekend. Many thanks to Trish Wheeler being the instigator and pulling it together.
That spurred some year groups to pull their own video together and I know that the teachers enjoyed seeing their students having fun. Thanks to the parents who organised those videos. The school is trying to make the videos accessible via the parent portal.
The PFA is also looking at ways that they can support the school and local community. You would have seen their first email last week with various links and ideas. Thanks to Annalie and her team for pulling those together.
You will also see more of the student voice in the newsletter. This week we have a piece by the school captains and we are looking to expand the student involvement on an ongoing basis.
The leadership team is continuing to review the online learning process so that it keeps evolving. Thanks to Rohan, Katie and Kim for the time they have spent on implementing the program. They have lots of ideas, however, it takes time to test and roll-out the various initiatives and implement them into the curriculum. The feedback received to date from the teachers, parents and students has been useful and is being considered. Please feel free to continue to provide feedback – I just continue to ask that it is constructive and everyone is patient with each step of the process. Thanks to the leadership team and teachers for their hard work too.
Hi Students, Families and Teachers,
We hope you are all doing well during this difficult time.
These are some ideas on things you can do to stay active:
Play ball or sport games with a sibling or a parent
Draw a hopscotch court on the footpath outside your house
Go for a bike ride or a walk/run
Do a kids workout (Go Noodle)
Just Dance or a Dance Class (online)
These are some other activities you can do at home:
Paper maché
Painting/drawing
Origami
Make a paper plane and have a race with a sibling or parent
Make a puppet and have a puppet show
Bake a cake with a parent or sibling
Do a puzzle
We hope you enjoy these ideas, and remember to always do your best! We look forward to seeing everyone back at school hopefully soon and we will continue to send ideas to you and keep you updated.
Best Wishes,
Your School Captains
Winnie Roberts, Sam Johnson, April Kirkham and Lucas MacDonald.
CSEF Update
If due to COVID-19 your financial circumstances have changed and you are now a current Health Care Card holder, you may be eligible for CSEF (Camps Sports and Excursions Fund). Please contact Jane via email to discuss.
The next instalment of TRP @ Home is ready and available for you!
This section will focus on Mindfulness. Mindfulness is our ability to be calm and present at any given moment. When we are mindful we are better placed to appreciate the things we have (Gratitude) and actively listen to others (Empathy).
In the current situation we find ourselves it is completely normal to feel distracted, anxious and have an overwhelming amount of feelings. Spending time being mindful is crucial! To view the mindfulness activities click here.
The Premiers Reading Challenge is well underway for 2020 and it will conclude on the 4th of September. Students have 86 days to read and log books in order to be rewarded with a certificate at the end of the year. Bright Bookworms in years P-2 need to read 30 books to complete the challenge and avid booklovers in years 3-6 must read 15 books to receive their certificate later in the year. This challenge should be easy to achieve under the current circumstances.
The Premiers Reading Challenge provides a list of quality books students can choose to read, however students may also select a portion of their books themselves. In P-2, 10 of the 30 books can be books that are not on the list and in 3-6, 5 of the 15 books can be own choice books. A link to each of the lists is here; https://vprc.eduweb.vic.gov.au/home
Congratulations to our PMPS bright book worms who have been using some of their time at home to read and log books for the Premiers’ Reading Challenge! Fantastic effort! If you haven’t started it’s not too late! Log in the Premiers’ Reading Challenge @ PMPS Google Classroom for story links or any questions you have about the challenge. The classroom is being updated all the time, so login to see what’s new! Access Code: 6bpx5ba
A special message from Miss Nicole in the Library and Miss Candice – we now have STORY BOX at PMPS. You can log in right here; https://storyboxlibrary.com.au/login
Username: portm
Password portm
If you have any questions about the Premiers’ Reading Challenge, drop me an email! Happy Reading!
If your child is interested in applying for the SEAL program at APC, the assessment consists of four parts.
Completion of the SEAL testing program. In 2020 students, will complete the testing program on Saturday 16 May 9 – 12 pm. The testing program is skills based rather than curriculum based. It is designed to identify student ability rather than acquired knowledge.
On completion of the testing program student referral forms are to be completed by the student’s Year 6 teacher and parent or carer. These forms are to be submitted to Albert Park College.
Students whose teacher and parents or carer referral forms and test results indicate that they have the potential range of skills for the program will be invited, with their parents or carer, for an interview during July 2020.
Please note: Final selection will be consistent with the state-wide DET placement policy
**Your child's classroom teacher is required to fill in a form. Please let your child's teacher know asap if you are definitely applying so they have ample time to complete the relevant documents. The school will send these to APC.
This week, we profile Darren Crawcour and Jodie Bacon of 6CD.
After teaching by the sea at Brighton Beach P.S, Darren moved to The Grange P-12 school in Hoppers Crossing where he established their primary campus ICT program. In 2007, he moved to PMPS as Assistant Principal with a focus and passion for student wellbeing. In 2018, Darren celebrated his 35th year of teaching and has over that time taught in all year levels as well as Physical Education. In addition to teaching Year 6, he is also one of school’s Learning Specialists, leading PMPS in Digital Technologies, where there is a focus on developing device resources across the curriculum.
Jodie’s teaching career has spanned 27 rewarding years, and she still remains passionate and dedicated in nurturing children to be the best they can be. She moved to Melbourne earlier this month from Milton State School in Brisbane where she has been a year 5 teacher and writing coach for nine years.
Jodie and her family have decided once again to reside in the city we hold most dear to our hearts. She has two boys- Preston who is 13, and Hudson who is 11 years of age. They both love their footy and are really enjoying living in Melbourne.
Jodie describes herself as an open, honest, sincere and dedicated professional with high expectations of herself and her students. She come to school every day aspiring to make a difference and to improve outcomes for all. She also has a great sense of humour and likes to make her students laugh and enjoy their learning.
City of Port Phillip Resources for Families
Our local City of Port Phillip Family Services team produce a weekly online newsletter which includes some great resources for families.
And, as always, if you feel you are in need of support, please do not hesitate to contact the school.
Amelia Ingram PMPS Youth Worker
Message from the PFA
The PFA role this term will be to support families, as best we can, through life at home. Life is new and different right now, but there are heaps of amazing new opportunities and ways to entertain us, so please share your tips for surviving lock down. We will share these via the portal and PFA weekly update. The Teachers and leaders are sharing content and ideas for academic support, we want to help support each other through the other stuff. Email pmpsparentsandfriends@gmail.com with your best recipes, book recommendations, home entertainment tips and good apps for adults and kids.
Stay Happy and Healthy everyone and hope to see you all very soon.
The PFA Team.
port.melbourne.ps@edumail.vic.gov.au
Our mailing address is:
415 Graham Street, Port Melbourne 3207
