Latest School News
22 July 2022
22 July 2022
Welcome back for Term 3 everyone! I’ve loved moving around the school and catching up with all our students and staff following the school holiday break. It’s been fantastic to hear some of the holiday stories from the students and I’m pleased the vast majority are happy to be back at school.
From a staffing perspective, we’re currently experiencing some challenges with high numbers of staff absent due to COVID-19 isolation protocols. So far we have been able to always find a relief staff member for each teacher’s absence, but we are preparing for situations where this might not be the case in the coming weeks. To ensure adequate supervision and duty of care, if we are short-staffed we will look to local solutions in such a way that keeps disruption to the school day to a minimum. If you or anyone you know is a teacher interested in relief work, please get in touch with the front office so we can add you to our wonderful army of relief staff who are integral in supporting our students.
Looking towards 2023, places in our highly-regarded Kindergarten program are filling up fast. Children who turn 4 on or before 30 June, 2023 are eligible for our program, which runs on a five-day fortnight. Please get in touch with the front office on 9338 0550 to enroll.
Finally, I must give a shout out to our marvelous music teacher, Mrs Katie Hardman, our fabulous parent coordinator Caroline Rusden, and their amazing group of instrumental teachers and parent volunteers who facilitated an amazing Orchestra and Band camp earlier this week. Our Mount Hawthorn PS students are so fortunate to experience such wonderful extracurricular opportunities which wouldn’t be possible without their dedication and expertise. Thank you to you all, I can’t wait for next year’s edition.
Welcome back to another great term at Mount Hawthorn Primary and trust you all enjoyed your holidays.
Recently our staff participated in a Cultural Learning session, “The Blanket Activity.” As the name suggests it begins with blankets arranged on the floor to represent Australia before the arrival of European explorers and settlers. The journey takes us on an immersive exploration of the nation-to-nation relationship with Aboriginal people, working towards reconciliation and empowering people to build bridges of understanding and respect. It is an experiential teaching tool to share the historical and contemporary relationships between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people of Australia.
The resounding feedback from staff was this was one of best Professional Learning sessions they had attended. We would like to explore the possibility of running a cultural workshop on Friday the 19th of August, (Pupil Free Day) from 9.30 to 11.00 for parents. We require a minimum of 20 participants.
If you are interested please register using this link here.
Session Overview:
The Blanket Activity delivery is presented by Aboriginal Support Coordinators – Charmaine Climo and Renarta Coyne. The Blanket Activity was developed by the Canadian Aboriginal Rights Coalition to connect Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people with the history of Canada’s Aboriginal people. It has been adapted to become an interactive learning experience that explores the relationship between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people of Australia, particularly Western Australia; Perth. The journey takes us on an immersive exploration of the nation-to-nation relationship with Aboriginal people, working towards reconciliation and empowering people to build bridges of understanding and respect.
Focus 2022
The activity assists with increasing the capacity of participants to use their knowledge of the History, Culture, Languages and experiences of Aboriginal people.
NAIDOC at MHPS
The National NAIDOC Committee celebrated NAIDOC Week from 3 -10 July 2022, during the holidays. Hopefully you got to check out the many activities and opportunities in and around Perth. At MHPS, we will celebrate our NAIDOC Week in Term 3 Week 8.
The P&C are busy planning events for the second half of the year. We’ll soon reveal dates for the lapathon and school disco, as well as details of our Father’s Day raffle. Watch this space! In the meantime, we’re in need of some help from our school community:
Canteen volunteers for Term 3
Come and join the fun in the canteen during term 3. Learn how to make the well loved Milo cookie and see you kid’s happy faces as they visit you at lunchtime. Grandparents are welcome too! Register here: http://www.signup.com/go/EzQkvpO
URGENTLY NEEDED – Uniform shop committee lead
The P&C is seeking a volunteer to take the lead in the uniform shop. If you’re interested, please email P&C President Tash Hawkins mhpspc.president@gmail.com
P&C parent survey
We want your feedback! Please take 5 minutes to share your opinions to help us plan our FY23 program. Survey closes Friday 29 July. Access the survey here: https://forms.gle/vdStdjATz6gLmp5C7
Bakers unite!
Inviting all our would be Betty Crockers in the parent community to show off their baking skills at this year’s Faction Athletics carnivals. Please drop off your red, blue, green or white cupcakes to the P&C stall before races commence.
Junior Carnival: 08.30, Wednesday 3 August at the School Oval
Senior Carnival: 08.30, Wednesday 31 August at Menzies Oval
Each cupcake fetches a gold coin donation from those wishing to indulge their sweet tooth. Proceeds go to P&C projects to enrich our school grounds and curriculum. As always, thank you for your support. We look forward to hosting this ‘fun-raiser’ with you!
Shari and Adele
mhpspc.events@gmail.com
On the 17 and 18 July, over 100 orchestra and band students went to Music Camp. Everyone arrive Sunday morning feeling super excited. On day 1 the band and orchestra rehearsed lots of amazing music, ate delicious food and competed in hilarious Minute to Win It games. It got very competitive! On day 2 the students rehearsed in their instrumental sections and participated in team building activities like Lost Pilot, Big Swing and Archery. They also performed an entertaining concert for their families before heading home happy yet exhausted. Camp 2022 was so much fun. This camp was completely organised by our amazing parent Caroline Rusden, her family and her team of parent helpers and is supported by myself and the IMSS teachers. We are all so grateful for this amazing opportunity. Congratulations to our amazing music stars and thanks to our wonderful parents.
Congratulations to Edward L, Jade S, Isaac B and Angelina K for reaching the Year 4 Tennis Finals for 2022.
It was the longest tournament in the history of Year 4 Tennis at MHPS.
Our champions Isaac and Angelina played like stars throughout the competition.
On Monday, two of our Year 6 classes presented their dogs for the People’s Choice Dog Show. Children and our school community members donated gold coins in exchange for dog treats, which they placed in their favourite dog’s treat box.
Hon. John Carey MLA, our Member for Perth (and a big dog fan!) came along to see the fabulous dogs. He spotted one that he really wanted to have in his office and negotiated a fair deal with Evelyn, who can now call herself a professional artist having sold her first artwork!
Raindog, by Masa, was the winner! And Boba by Janine, was the runner up.
Harvey T, by Kaitie, was also given a special prize by John Carey.
Thanks to the wonderful people who donated we raised $320 for the Shenton Park Dogs’ Refuge Home.
Special thanks to Sally Watts, our inspiring artist, who made a very special little dog as the prize for our winner.
Special mention of Sienna O in Room 22. She held a lemonade stand on her verge on the weekend and raised an extra $37 for the Dogs Home. I think it’s wonderful that she took the initiative to do this and would like her acknowledged for her community spirit.
Mrs Hardman, Mrs Kiddle, Sarah and Rebecca H. were privileged to be invited to watch Emma L.’s first performance playing violin as part of the Western Australian Youth Orchestra at the Perth Concert Hall on Sunday the 12th of June.
Emma is a talented musician and we are so proud of her. The performance was exceptional, we all enjoyed it immensely.
Emma you are a super star .
Congratulations to our next lot of Super Mathletes! These students from Years 2 – 6 achieved the most points in Mathletics across their year level for Term 2. They received a certificate of achievement and a trophy, which they will display in their classroom until it is passed on to the next Super Mathlete.
Year 2 – Atticus T
Year 3 – Kate M
Year 4 – Sophie W
Year 5 – Liam W
Year 6 – Vincent G
Last Term our Year 6 Students competed against 4 schools in the 2022 Interschool Winter Carnival. The Carnival took place at 4 venues with 4 sports; Netball, Soccer, Football and Modcrosse. Our champion B-Grade Netball team even secured a win for every one of their games! We wanted to thank all those involved in the day, to the Teachers and all the helpers, it truly made the day a big success.
Football: Mr Norman for handling it all by himself!
Modcrosse: Miss French, and the helpers Sonia S, Sarah M, Suzanne B, Elizabeth M. Also a really big thank you to Mrs Townsend for all the coaching and volunteering she did, and for giving up her whole day to organise the Modcrosse venue.
Soccer: Mrs Burton and helpers Reece A and Richard A, Harjit D
Netball: Mrs Pessanha and helpers Fiona G, Sarah T and Debbie H
And lastly Mrs Putt for organising the whole day!
We’re so proud of a students and community for coming together and showing the MHPS Spirit!
For Term 3 2022
Last Day of Music Camp