Everyday Maths Last week the NSW Minister for Education, Sarah Mitchell officially launched the Maths campaign #MathsTrainsBrains, alongside the Everyday Maths Hub, as part of the NSW Mathematics Strategy. Maths is used every day in almost everything we do. It is the foundation of problem-solving and reasoning, and offers so many opportunities for students to work collaboratively and think creatively. Over the last two years, mathematics has been a key focus area with Middle Harbour teachers engaging in professional development with the Mathematics Association of NSW around building student confidence, fluency and reasoning skills in mathematics.

I am excited to share with you this impressive Department initiative to support our students further with the mathematics skills they need to succeed in life. I encourage you to make the most of the Everyday Maths Hub, an online platform helping parents and carers engage their children in mathematics. The hub features fun, interactive resources and explainers about a wide range of mathematics topics and how they are relevant to everyday life. The #MathsTrainsBrains campaign is designed to change perceptions of mathematics in the wider community, by showing just how integral mathematics is to everyday people doing inspiring things.

Kids Cottage Renovations Renovations to the Kids Cottage (OOSH) commenced this week. Please see the note attached to the end of this newsletter from School Infrastructure NSW regarding these planned works. The renovations should have very little impact on students during school hours, and are scheduled for completion by the end of January 2021. The refurbishment of our OOSH building has been a long-awaited project, made a reality through the generous donations of parents and constant efforts of the Kids Cottage committee, staff and our Department assets manager. The refurbishments will create a fresh, engaging shared space. World Teacher’s Day On Friday 30 October we celebrated World Teacher’s Day. Thank you to our beautiful students, P&C, parent community and SASS staff whose messages and gifts of appreciation were so warmly received. As teachers, we celebrated the joy and privilege of working with young people and being in a profession that helps them to grow. Laura Barry Principal

Learning at MHPS

Year 1 have been reading ‘The Day the Crayons Quit’ by Oliver Jeffers and arrived at school today to find that their chairs had all quit. What was Year 1 to do? This challenged to students to work out how they were going to encourage the chairs to return to their classrooms. After much discussion, laughter and creative thoughts, the students wrote letters to the chairs apologising for having taken them for granted and explained that they were relevant in their daily lives and persuaded them to return to the classroom.

Sharing scientific knowledge

Year 4 experts shared their knowledge of materials and a material world with Kindergarten students.

Kindergarten Transition for enrolment in 2021

It is absolutely delightful to meet many our new 2021 Kindergarten students as they visit us in preparation to start school next year. Our Kindergarten transition program is a little different this year and our families and new students are taking this in their stride. Last Friday we were able to welcome half of our 2021 Kindergarten group of students face to face as they experienced their first taste of ‘big school’. This group will visit again this coming Friday. We will then welcome the other group of 2021 students on 13 and 20 November.

Please remind anyone you know starting Kindergarten next year to enrol with us as a priority if they have not already done so, to ensure that they are included in our transition program.

2021 Enrolment Intentions

We are currently in the process of planning for 2021. This includes the large task of determining staffing, classes, the location of each class in the school and the learning programs that will run next year. To complete this process, it is essential that we have accurate enrolment numbers. It is especially important that we know if your child is not returning to Middle Harbour for the start of the 2021 school year. Kindly complete this online form The school held their first Kindy Transition morning last Friday and these will continue throughout November. Carole Jaye Deputy Principal

OUT AND ABOUT

NOT RETURNING TO MHPS IN 2021?

The Kindergarten teachers would like to extend a huge thank you to Heather Clemens - Nan to Sophie KO and Chloe 3T for sewing 200 new morning tea bags! We know that Kindergarten 2021 (and also Kindy 2022) are going to love them. If you are in Kindy, Year 1 or Year 2, Heather sewed your morning tea bag too. She is so talented and we are so grateful. Thank you from all the Kindergarten Teachers.

Book Week 2020 Students enjoyed various Book Week activities including story time recordings performed by some VIPs including Mrs Barry and Mrs Jaye. Various classes were treated to a talk by author Lindsay Holliday via Zoom and the school community dazzled us with their fabulous book character costumes. Students are welcome to visit the library and find their Book Week photos on our ‘Windows of Fame’.

Book Week Competition - Mosman Library Well done to Maisie K (KP) who won first place in the Mosman Library writing competition for her age group. Maisie created a fabulous acrostic poem about curious creatures from various stories. We are very proud of you Maisie!

Sarah Rosenberg & Sarah Merrick Teacher Librarians

Kindy 2021 Transition sessions are coming! Enrolling your child now assists the school to plan for Kindergarten numbers for our transition sessions and classes next year. To enrol, you may either complete an online application via this link or submit a paper copy. To submit a paper copy:

1. Download and complete all applicable forms found on the MiddleHarbour Public School website – link Enrolment at MHPS

2. Scan/email completed forms, with all additional documents to the school, atmiddleharb-p.school@det.nsw.edu.au

To be eligible for enrolment at our school, your residential address must be within our local area. Unfortunately, we are not able to accept out-of-area enrolments at this time.

Further information about online enrolment can be found on our website here

THANK YOU

KINDERGARTEN ENROLMENTS 2021

LIBRARY NEWS

As a reminder to Year 5 families, applications for Year 7 entry to selective high schools in 2022 will be accepted from Tuesday 13 October 2020 to Monday 16 November 2020.

All applicants are required to sit the Selective High School Placement Test to be held on Thursday 11 March 2021. Placement outcome information released: 2 July 2021

Parents must apply online at https://education.nsw.gov.au/public-schools/select...

This information was previously emailed to parents/carers. However, if you would like to receive a printed copy of the information booklet please contact the office via email and we can arrange a copy to send home with your child.

Applications for student travel in 2021 opened on Monday 12 October 2020. Students who require a School Opal card or travel pass for 2021 can now apply online. A new application should be submitted if a student is applying for a school travel pass for the first time or requesting an additional pass as a result of a new shared parental responsibility situation (e.g. joint custody).

Students who have changed school/campus, changed address, repeated a year or received an expiry notification from Transport for NSW for their school travel entitlement should re-apply or update their details.

Where there is a change of distance eligibility based on a student’s grade, the system will automatically update a student’s entitlement if they meet the new criteria. If they do not meet the new eligibility criteria, they will receive an expiry notification via email. Students who have an entitlement approved under a medical condition which is due to expire will receive a notification advising them to re-apply.

Term Bus Pass holders will receive a notification to re-apply.

Applications need to be submitted before 31 December 2020 to ensure that current student entitlements are updated and their current entitlement/card remains valid. If their application is submitted after 31 December 2020, the system will automatically cancel an entitlement/card and a new one will need to be issued. Students in the Opal network applying for a SSTS or Term Bus Pass entitlement for the first time will receive their card at their nominated postal address. Cards will be mailed out from January 2021.

Band is back in full swing at Middle Harbour with school rehearsals recommencing this term. It’s fabulous to be back rehearsing in person with our friends and amazing conductors! The bands are all working hard towards end of year performances for their school friends and we can't wait to hear them. Band camp will be held at school on Saturday 21 November. Families, please save the date. Further information will be sent out shortly. The committee is working towards our end of year band celebrations. They will be a little different to our normal activities, but the good news is that we do expect an end of year outing will be possible - hooray!

YEAR 7 SELECTIVE HIGH SCHOOL PLACEMENT - 2022

2021 SCHOOL TRAVEL APPLICATIONS

MUSIC UPDATE

Formation of the 2021 training band has commenced. All Year 2 children and interested students in Years 3-5 undertook an ear test last Friday, the first step in joining the band.

Families please look out for our band information recording on Skoolbag this week. It will provide an insight into band presented by our director of bands, Mr Hampton, and features our concert band students introducing their instruments and demonstrating their pieces.

The final step in recruitment is the blow test to be held on Friday 13 November for all students registered for band. Children must be registered to do the blow test using this link - https://portal.msmusic.com.au/mhpsmusic

We look forward to welcoming as many new students as possible to experience the wonderful personal development that is offered through the band program.

TERM 4 2020 NOVEMBER

T4 Wk 4 – Tuesday 3 Bear Pit Pubic Speaking (virtual) T4 Wk 4 – Friday 6 Kindy transition group A T4 Wk 4 – Friday 6 Year 6 – Surf School T4 Wk 5 – Wednesday 11 Band information session for parents - details TBC T4 Wk 5 – Thursday 12 Athletics Carnival years 3 – 6 (TBC) T4 Wk 5 – Friday 13 Band blow test for year 2 T4 Wk 5 – Friday 13 Year 6 – Surf School T4 Wk 5 – Friday 13 Kindy transition group B T4 Wk 6 – Monday 16 Talk-and-Walk-a-Thon Event T4 Wk 6 – Tuesday 17 Athletics Carnival years K-2 T4 Wk 6 – Wednesday 18 OC Placement Test (Year 5 - 2021) T4 Wk 6 – Friday 20 Kindy transition group B T4 Wk 6 – Friday 20 Year 6 – Surf School T4 Wk 6 – Saturday 21 Band Camp T4Wk 7 – Thursday 26 Year 6 Mini-fete T4 Wk 7– Friday 27 Year 6 – Surf School

DECEMBER T4 Wk 9– Tuesday 8 Celebration of Learning/Sport/Arts Assembly Stage 2 (students only) T4 Wk 9– Wednesday 9 Celebration of Learning /Sport/Arts Assembly Stage 1 (students only) T4 Wk 9– Thursday 10 Kindy Graduation (students only) T4 Wk 9– Thursday 10 Band and Strings Zoo Safari (TBC) T4 Wk 10 – Monday 14 Celebration of Learning/Sport/Arts Assembly Stage 3 (students only) T4 Wk 10 – Monday 14 Year 6 Farewell Event - at school T4 Wk 10 – Tuesday 15 All Stages - fun day - at school T4 Wk 10 – Wednesday 16 Year 6 Talent Show/Tunnel T4 Wk 10 – Wednesday 16 Last day of term 4 for students

Red indicates the event has changed or been added since previous newsletter

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY

TERM 1 2021 JANUARY

T1Wk 1 – Wednesday 27 School Development Day - Staff only - (no students) T1Wk 1 – Thursday 28 School Development Day – Staff only (no students) T1Wk 1 – Friday 29 First day of term 1 for students (Yr 1-6)

FEBRUARY T1Wk 2 – Monday 1 Kindergarten students commence T1Wk 2 – Tuesday 2 Kindergarten students attend school T1Wk 2 – Wednesday 3, Thursday 4 & Friday 5

Kindergarten Best Start (as per appointment)

MARCH T1Wk 6 – Tuesday 2 Swimming Carnival Yrs 3-6 @ Manly Andrew ‘Boy’ Charlton Aquatic

Centre T1Wk 7 – Thursday 11 Year 6 students - Yr 7, 2022 Selective High School placement test

Become an Ethics Teacher at Middle Harbour Public School for 2021

Do you have an interest in helping children develop practical thinking and decision-making skills?

Please consider volunteering for one 30-minute Ethics class per week on Thursday afternoons at Middle Harbour (either 1:45-2:15 or 2:15-2:45). We have a need for new parent/grandparent/aunty/uncle volunteers to meet 2021 Ethics class demand.

All lessons are written by Primary Ethics and approved by the Department of Education and all students in NSW follow exactly the same curriculum. The only prep you need to do each week is familiarising yourself with the lesson you will facilitate.

Through the Primary Ethics training, you will learn behaviour management and discussion facilitation techniques that are useful at home and in the workplace too!

Visit https://primaryethicsnew.files.wordpress.com/2018/10/position-description-ethics-teacher-oct-20181.pdf for more info and to apply. Please feel free to email me (dpizzari@hotmail.com) with any questions