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Welcome to 2025!
Dear Mount Pritchard Public School Community,
As we begin the new school year, I would like to extend a heartfelt welcome to all our families, especially those who are joining us for the first time. We are excited to have you as part of our vibrant school community. At Mount Pritchard Public School, we pride ourselves on fostering a close-knit and collaborative environment. Our dedicated staff members are committed to working with you to ensure that every student feels known, valued, and cared for.
Growing School Community
I am thrilled to announce that our school population has grown to 369 students this year. This growth reflects the positive reputation and strong community support we have developed over the years. In response to this increase, we have established two additional classes to help reduce class sizes. Research shows that smaller class sizes can lead to improved student engagement and learning outcomes, allowing for more individualised attention and support for each student.
Welcoming New Staff
We are excited to introduce several new staff members who have joined our team this year:
- Mrs Dinsdale – Relieving School Administration Officer: Mrs Dinsdale will be the friendly face in the office, assisting with administrative tasks and ensuring smooth operations within the school.
- Ms Alavandi, Mr Roma and Miss Dang (EALD): Specialising in English as an Additional Language or Dialect, The teachers will support our EALD students in developing their language skills.
- Mrs Fischer (RFF): Responsible for releaving class teachers when planning and professional development.
- Miss Jovanovic (2J): Our new Year 2 teacher. Miss Jovanovic is eager to inspire her students and create a nurturing classroom environment.
- Aisha Ismail, Sandi Johna, and Ahlam Atea – SLSOs: These School Learning Support Officers will work closely with students who require additional assistance, ensuring they have the support needed to thrive.
School Excellence Plan 2025-2028
Our School Excellence Plan for 2025 to 2028 has been thoughtfully developed to guide our efforts towards achieving excellence and equity in education. This plan is a living document that will be refined over time to communicate our progress and goals.
Our vision is clear:
"At Mount Pritchard Public School, we aim to inspire a love of learning in a supportive, enjoyable, and engaging environment where everyone can connect and collaborate. We are committed to fostering potential and achieving success in all areas."
The plan revolves around three strategic directions:
- Student Growth and Attainment: We will implement programs and initiatives designed to support individual student growth, ensuring that all students achieve their personal best.
- Strengthening Teaching, Learning, and Assessment Practices: Continuous professional development for our educators will enhance teaching practices, ensuring that we are delivering high-quality instruction and effective assessment strategies.
- Enhancing Student Engagement: We believe that engaged students are successful students. We will create opportunities for students to actively participate in their learning, fostering a sense of ownership and enthusiasm.
Throughout the year, we will provide updates and greater detail on our School Excellence Plan, including how parents and the community can contribute to these goals.
Parent and Carer Involvement
I want to extend my gratitude to all parents who attended our "Meet the Teacher" event and the goal-setting meetings held during weeks 8 and 9. These events are instrumental in cultivating strong partnerships in learning and communication between home and school. If you were unable to attend, please remember that teachers are available for phone conversations; however, please be considerate that they cannot take calls while they are engaged with students in class.
A heartfelt thank you to the parents who contributed delicious food for Harmony Day and those who generously donated goodies for the Easter raffle. Your support enriches our school community and enhances our students' experiences.
I would also like to acknowledge the 12 parents and caregivers, including grandmothers, who attended our first Parent Coffee Club. Your participation and the tasty treats you brought made our gathering special. We greatly appreciate your support for our Parent Coordinator, Sheridan Walters, as we prepare for events like the Easter Hat Parade raffle.
Mark your calendars! Our next Parent Coffee Club will take place in Week 2 of Term 2, where we will prepare for and discuss our upcoming Mother's Day celebration.
Sports Specialist Program
This year, we are excited to introduce a new partnership with Zing Active for our additional sports specialist program. This program is designed to enrich our students' physical education experience by providing high-quality instruction in various sports disciplines. The schedule for the year is as follows:
- Term 1: Dance and Gymnastics
- Term 2: Athletics and Ball Sports
- Term 3: Skipping and Wellbeing (Social and Emotional Health)
- Term 4: Ball Sports and Gymnastics
The program will cost $50 per term per student, which includes a 60-minute session each week led by qualified and specialist teachers. To make this valuable program more accessible, the school will cover 50% of the cost, reducing the fee to just $25 per term per student. We kindly ask that contributions be made before the end of each term. Additionally, only the first two students in a family will need to pay the fee.
As an added incentive, all students who pay for the entire year by the end of Term 1 will be entered into a draw for exciting prizes, including a new set of uniforms or an Android tablet.
Uniform and Attendance
I would like to congratulate all students selected as SRC representatives! This role presents a fantastic opportunity for students to develop leadership skills and voice their peers' opinions.
I encourage all parents to support our school's high standards for uniforms. Uniforms must be worn every day, with sports uniforms on Tuesdays and Fridays. Please ensure that all items, including drink bottles and lunchboxes, are clearly labelled to help us return lost items to your child.
It is crucial for the safety of our students that they arrive at school after 8:30 am, as there are no staff on duty before this time. Please ensure that your child is collected by 3pm, with the end-of-day bell ringing at 2:55pm. If you are running late, please contact the school for assistance.
Regular attendance is vital for academic success, and this includes punctuality. I encourage you to read the attendance report included in this newsletter. I would like to congratulate all students who will receive attendance rewards on the last week of school.
As we strive to maintain a positive and respectful school environment, I would like to remind everyone of the NSW School Community Charter, which outlines expectations for respectful communication among all members of our community.
On behalf of the staff, I wish all our students and families a wonderful holiday. For those celebrating religious festivities across different faiths and cultures, we extend our wishes for peace and harmony.
If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me via the office to arrange an appointment.
A friendly reminder that all students will return to school on
Wednesday 30th April in their Winter Uniform.
Warm regards,
Natalie Piccinin
Principal
Swimming Carnival & District Swimming Carnival
Congratulations to all competetive swimmers in the MPPS Swimming carnival for 2025. It was a highly competetive day with an outstanding number of swimmers competing compared to previous years. Congratulations to Temujin 3/4G, Petar 3/4L, Jessi 2H , Ella 3/4G, Matilda 3/4C, Omar 5/6T, Koby 3/4L, Jakov 3/4C and Edalene 5/6C in making it to and competing in the GVPSSA Zone carnival. A special congratulations to Petar, Omar, Ella and Jessi who competed at the Sydney South West Regional Swimming Carnival.
Mr Lawrence & Mrs Carlson
HARMONY DAY
On Wednesday, 19 March 2025 (Week 8), Mt Pritchard Public School celebrated Harmony Day, embracing the theme of "Everyone Belongs." Students participated in a shared lunch by bringing in a dish from their culture to share with their classmates, and many dressed in orange and their cultural costumes. Buddy classes were formed to complete an activity for our Harmony Tree, which you can see at the entrance of our school hall. It was a wonderful opportunity to celebrate our cultural diversity and foster a sense of community. The day was filled with delicious food and meaningful connections!
Mr Augustine, Miss McCann, Miss Nguyen, Mrs Dinh
STAGE 1 SYDENY ZOO EXCURSION
EASTER HAT PARADE
School Excellence Plan
In 2025, we start a new planning cycle and have spent Term 1 developing our new School Excellence Plan. In this plan we are building on the strong work we achieved in our last plan and are continuing to ensure all students achieve their potential. Our three strategic directions for our new planning cycle are:
Strategic Direction 1 - Student Growth and Attainment
Our purpose is to maximise student learning outcomes in literacy and numeracy and build strong foundations for academic success, by strengthening explicit teaching practices and ensuring that instruction is data-driven and responsive to individual student needs.
This year, our focus in this direction is:
- Teachers engage in collaborative High Impact Professional Learning (HIPL) to build capability in Explicit Teaching professional learning practice, which is shown to support how students learn. Through professional learning, teachers will deepen their understanding of how learning happens in order to deliver a structured and sequenced approach to teaching new content. Evidence shows that learning is most efficient when teachers break new information down and teach it explicitly using explanation, demonstration and modelling.
- Teaching and learning programs, lesson plans, teaching practices, and resources are tailored to address the specific numeracy learning needs of each student. Teachers consider student’s cognitive load and employ explicit teaching strategies to optimise learning progress of students across the full range of abilities. Effective methods are identified, promoted and modelled, and student’s learning improvement is monitored over time, demonstrating growth.
Strategic Direction 2 - Strengthening Teaching, Learning and Assessment Pratices
Our purpose is to strengthen practice by using assessment as a tool for continuous improvement. By fostering collaboration and data-driven instruction, teachers will be empowered to adapt their strategies to meet diverse student needs, creating a supportive learning environment for all.
This year, our focus in this direction is:
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Establish school-wide assessment practices that ensure a consistent and fair evaluation of student learning outcomes across a variety of Key Learning Areas (KLAs). We will create assessment structures that allows for consistent monitoring of student progress.. Through professional learning, evaluation of current practice and professional discussion around assessment we will develop a shared understanding of student achievement to enhance the quality of teaching and learning programs to support improved student outcomes.
- Embed Consistent Judgement (CTJ) processes within our professional development structures, ensuring a culture of continuous professional growth. By implementing structured CTJ sessions, teachers will collaboratively evaluate student work and assessment data, engaging in reflective discussions that enhance their understanding of effective teaching strategies. This collaborative approach will promote shared accountability and enable staff to learn from colleagues resulting in improved instructional practices.
Strategic Direction 3 - Enhancing Student Engagement
Our purpose is to create an inclusive school community where everyone is known, valued and cared for. Through consistent evidence-based wellbeing practices students will be supported to reach their potential.
This year, our focus in this direction is:
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To enhance student wellbeing through whole-school strategies, including the Berry Street Education Model, streamlined Learning Support Team procedures, and Passports for Learning for Nangamay students. Professional learning sessions will equip staff with evidence-based practices to effectively integrate these strategies into their teaching. The focus is on creating a supportive and inclusive environment that prioritises student wellbeing and academic success.
- Enhance student attendance through improved tracking, the HERO program, and regular data reviews. It includes stronger monitoring of improvement plans for struggling students and engages parents with attendance reports and informational handouts. Reward systems, such as badges and merit certificates, will be maintained, and best practices will be shared in Attendance network meetings. Attendance achievements will be celebrated in assemblies to promote a culture valuing consistent attendance, essential for academic progress. A timeline will guide actions, with effectiveness evaluated through data analysis and community feedback.
Attendance
We have had a wonderful start to the year in regards to attendance with the avergae attendance rate sitting above 90% across the school each week. A friendly reminder, that you are required to explain your child's absence from school within 7 days.
Once again we have run our school-wide attendance competition this term, tracking the classes that have the best attendance. Congratulations to KR and 3/4C who are our Term 1 attendance reward winners. Both classes have had great attendance and a minimal number of unexplained absences over the term. These classes, along with 148 students across K-6 with greater than 97% attendance this term, will be enjoing an ice-cream from the ice-cream van this Friday.
Next term we will be focussing on reducing our late arrivals to school. While a few minutes seems like nothing, these do add up and can have a significant impact on student learning.
Coming later this year...
As we reach the end of term, I would like to wish all our families a safe and happy holiday break and for those who celebrate it, a Happy Easter!
We provide many opportunities for students to earn Merit Awards. Students require FOUR small awards to attain a big award and FOUR big awards to achieve a badge.
They move through the badges - Bronze, Silver, Gold and Platinum. Our award system also includes a Diamond Award which is presented to any student in Year 6 who has exceeded the Platinum Badge by an additional four big awards. Students are encouraged to hand in their four awards when they collect them rather than saving them.
ES1 Supervisor
Miss Cheak
National Young Leaders Conference
Our School Captains and Vice Captains attended the Young Leaders Conference at Darling Harbour. We learnt a lot about what leadership means thanks to the amazing guest speakers. We can't believe we got to meet Australia's most successful Olympian Emma McKeon, Harries from Bondi Rescue, Moana’s Catherine Laga'aia and screenwriter/author Thomas Duncan Watt.
International Women’s Day
Our Prefects had a wonderful day at Bonnyrigg High School celebrating International Women's Day. We participated in fun activities such as making friendship bracelets and creating a vision board. The guest speakers we listened to were inspiring. Dai Le was one of our favourites.
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| Sofia - 5/6S | Blessing - 5/6T |
| 2025 School Captains |
Nangamay students have enjoyed joining their mainstream classmates for Stage Sport with Zing Active, where they have been having fun and developing their social skills. We are thrilled to see that some students have begun attending our morning assemblies, which is fantastic for their social development. Additionally, we have more students participating in mainstream activities during break times, helping them build friendships and enhance social interactions.
In the classroom, students have been learning about numbers and enhancing their counting skills through engaging activities. They have also explored a variety of picture books, inspiring them to create beautiful artworks that connect with the stories they read. In Science, students have been learning about the weather and the seasons.
It’s been a fantastic term, and we are proud of how everyone is growing and thriving together! We look forward to more wonderful experiences in the next term!
Miss Castelo, Mrs Leabres & Mrs Raven
Nangamay Teachers
We have had a wonderful start to our first term in School Readiness. We have loved learning new things and making lots of lovely new friends. We made crowns on our very first day.
Ms Facchetti-Hill and Miss Nguyen
SRP Co-ordinators
We began the term with our special “Dinner with a Book” event. This term in the library, Stage 2 and 3 classes celebrated “Love your Library” month with “Dinner with a Book.” Each class was given the opportunity to select a book to ‘taste test’ and pin their favourite book title to our ‘Love your Library’ Wall. This year, we even had Stage 1 students join in on the fun and taste-test all of our latest Picture Books! All students had so much fun and many borrowed the books that were part of our activity!
This term in the Library, we also had our annual Book Fair! Students were invited to participate in a Book Fair Colouring Competition for their chance to win a Book Fair voucher. We had many wonderful entries and it was so hard for our judges, Miss Lukajic, Miss Me, and Mrs Ha, to decide on the winning entries. Congratulations to the following students who received a $10 voucher to redeem at the Book Fair: Melanie KS, Aisea 1M, Veronika 2H, Jakov 3/4C, Petar 3/4L, Diep 5/6S, and Sofia 5/6S.A big congratulations to the following students who were the runners up and received a $5 voucher: Amanda KB, Nevaeh 1J, Trinh 1/2R, Ahbree 3/4M, Amelia 3/4L, Skylar 5/6N, and Omar 5/6T.We had so many wonderful entries this year, so the following students also received a book prize for their efforts: Cody KB, William KS, Daniella 1M, Armani 1J, Emilia 1/2R, Lazar 2H. Jayla 2H, Jovana 3/4G, Regina 3/4M, Jayla 3/4L, Vy 3/4C, Valentina 3/4G, Kyan 3/4G, Erin 3/4C, Rachel 3/4L, LJ 5/6T, Evalei 5/6T, Bella 5/6S, Laliyah 5/6T, Felicity 5/6T, Ashlee 5/6S, and Reem 5/6S.
I would also like to say a HUGE THANK YOU to everyone who supported the Book Fair in 2025! It was absolutely wonderful seeing the families and students so excited to be purchasing books, posters and stationery! We have had wonderful results over the last couple of years, but this year we once again broke our own school record for the highest Book Fair sales ever at MPPS!!!! This meant that we were able to gain a MASSIVE amount of resources for our school library! Students will be able to borrow many of these new books next term! Thank you to the entire school community for all of your support! We couldn’t have achieved any of this success without you!!!
This term, we also welcomed our Stage 3 Library Monitors and Year 2 Book Worms. Library Monitors and Book Worms had to undergo a month-long trial, where they had to come into the library during their allocated lunch time and demonstrate their skills and abilities in order to be officially selected. A huge congratulations to the following students who recieved their Library Monitor Badges at our Monday Morning Assembly: Isabella (5/6T), Rimas (5/6T), Diep (5/6C), Isabella (5/6C), Lelylah (5/6C), Aiden (5/6C), Jayden (5/6C), Mia (5/6C), Felicity (5/6C), Ashlee (5/6S), Charlie (5/6S), Jasper (5/6S), Lutfhia (5/6S), Reem (5/6S), Sofia (5/6S), Bella (5/6S), Lilly Lee (5/6S), Skylar (5/6N), Aliyah (5/6N), Noor (5/6N), Zena (5/6N), Livia (5/6N), Rosie (5/6N), Emily (5/6N), Keira (5/6N), and Adelyn (5/6N).We also announced our new Year 2 Book Worms for 2025! Book Worms are mini -library monitors in training. Each Book Worm so far has been timetabled to come into the library during the week and complete tasks so they can learn about being a Library Monitor in the future.A huge congratulations to: Jordan (2J), Skye (2J), Katrina (2J), Athena (2J), Alyssa (2J), Nevaeh (2J), Jakayla (2J), Veronika (2H), Lazar (2H), Indi (2H), Jessi (2H), Jayla (2H), Sujin (2H), Annalise (2H), Makayla (1/2R), and Trinh (1/2R).
We are looking forward to another fun and exciting term in the Library in Term 2!
Librarian
Mrs Raymond
Assistant Principal
It has been a wonderful term of sport at Mount Pritchard. We've had lots of different events and compeitions available to the students and it has been wonderful to see lots of students getting involved!
PSSA Report
Mr Gordon, Miss Mamis, Miss Nguyen and Mr Tran
PSSA Coaches
NRL School Visits
This term, our students had the exciting opportunity to meet players from the Parramatta Eels and Wests Tigers. These special visits gave students a chance to ask questions, take photos, and collect signatures from NRL first-grade players. The players shared insights about their training, teamwork, and dedication to the sport, inspiring our students to stay active and work hard toward their goals.
The excitement and energy during these visits were incredible, with students thoroughly enjoying the chance to interact with professional athletes. It was a fantastic experience that will be remembered for a long time!
Wests Tigers John Skandalis Gala Day
Fifty students, accompanied by Mr. Tran and Mr. Lawrence, had the opportunity to participate in the Wests Tigers John Skandalis Gala Day. It was a fantastic event where students took part in both League Tag and Rugby League, showcasing their enthusiasm and teamwork throughout the day.
The gala day provided a great chance for students to develop their skills, build confidence, and foster a love for the game. With plenty of action on the field and smiles all around, it was an unforgettable experience for all involved!
Green Valley PSSA Representatives
This year we have had many students go after school to trial for our Green Valley Zone representative teams. Below are the students who were selected to represent our school and the Green Valley region at upcoming Sydney South West tournamets. We are so proud to have so many sporting stars at our school
Rugby League 11s: Conor - 5/6T, Paul - 5/6S, Laylah - 5/6S
Rugby League 12s: Omar - 5/6T
Girls Netball: Davina - 5/6C
Boys Football: Tomislav - 5/6N, Jakov - 3/4C
Swimming: Jessi - 2H, Ella - 3/4C, Petar - 3/4L, Omar Hassan - 5/6T
Sydney South West Girls Rugby 7s and Rugby League Selection
A very special mention to Laylah Tomasi who was selected to be a part of 2 Sydney South West Teams; Girls Rugby 7s and Rugby League u11s where she was also competing against boys. Making a Sydney South West team is a very special achievement, she was selected as one of the best players across several different zones! She will get to compete at the NSW Championships for both sports. Congratulations Laylah and good luck for your upcoming tournaments!
NSWPSSA Knockout competition
This year the NSWPSSA Knockout competitions return to Mount Pritchard. We have teams competing in Boys Touch Football, Girls Touch Football, Mixed Netball, Boys Soccer and Girls Soccer.
Up first, our Boys Touch Football team. We got on the bus and headed to Kemps Creek Public School for our first round matchup. The boys competed well in a tight first half leading 4-2 at the break. In the second half the boys came out firing and started to click with their passes. The points came poured on quickly and we finished the game 10-4 winners! On to the next round!
Macarthur Bulls Soccer Clinic
In Week 11, some students from 3-6 had the chance to participate in a soccer training clinic with two of the trainers from the Macarthur Bulls.
Both PSSA teams and some other students spent an hour each with the trainers practising skills and playing games. It was a great experience for the students and it improved their soccer skills and confidence. Thank you to the Bulls for their support.
Mr Tran
Sports Coordinator
This term, students in Stage 1 have been immersing themselves in the vibrant celebrations of Lunar New Year called ‘Tết’. They learned about the significance of this festive occasion and crafted traditional red envelopes for lucky money. They also explored the letter 'i' through engaging vocabulary games to reinforce their understanding including fun activities such as making vocabulary cards and "Read My Head."
Meanwhile, Stage 2 and Stage 3 students also embraced the spirit of ‘Tết’! They participated in energetic vocabulary games like Fly Swat, enhancing their language skills while learning about our cultural traditions. The unit 'Tết' ended in the creation of beautiful artwork called Mâm Ngũ Quả, or New Year fruit bowl, which symbolises abundance and prosperity.
This term has been an exciting celebration of our rich culture and language, fostering a sense of community and connection among our students. We look forward to more enriching experiences in the coming weeks!
Please see some of our photos below.
Mrs Dinh
Community Language Teacher
Miss Dang, Mr Roma, Miss Tran, Mrs Trotter
EAL/D Teachers
Our Gardening Club has been hard at work preparing the garden beds for new plantings! Students were excited to clear out old weeds and debris, creating a tidy space for our upcoming plants. This hands-on experience not only teaches students about the importance of gardening and sustainability but also fosters teamwork and a love for the environment. We can't wait to see the vibrant new plants that will bring life to our school grounds!
Gardening Club is happening every Thursday at Recess. All parents and caregivers are welcome to join. We’d love to have you! Come share your expertise and passion for gardening with our students.
Miss Dang, Miss Me, Mrs Dinh
Environmental Committee
Change of Details
A reminder to parents that they should notify the school office whenever there are changes to contact information, such as phone numbers, addresses, or emergency contacts. This helps maintain accurate records and supports effective communication between the school and families.School Bytes
The School Bytes parent portal provides flexibility for you to conveniently:
• Make school payments online (including paying for multiple siblings at once)
• Use a family credit to pay for an activity or school contributions
• Download a receipt for payments made
• View all historical payments in one place
• Complete and submit digital permission notes
• View the status of all permission notes
This can be done where you want at any time: day or night.Please follow the steps below to register with your current email and create a password that consists a capital letter, a number and a special symbol ie $,%,*,@.
We are also encouraging all of our families to download the School Bytes App onto their mobile phone. Please see the details below. Having the app on your phone you will be able to receive quick notifications from the school.
If you require assistance please contact the school office.
Application for Extended Leave - Travel
We have currently added the Application for Extended Leave - Travel form onto your parent portal for when your child will be absent from school for one week or longer. If they are absent for a family holiday a copy of your travel itinerary will also need to loaded and submitted with the form.
Uniform Shop
There are two options you can use to order school uniform.
- On the Schoolzine app there is a tab on the Home page you can just click on and complete. Once you have completed the order you can then click the the "Make a Payment" tab and make the payment.
2. Below is an order form that can be used to order uniforms. Please print, complete and return via email back to the school email: mtpritchar-p.school@det.nsw.edu.au. Proceed to make a payment as stated above.
Arrangements can be made to pick up the uniforms from the school office or to be given to the student in their class.