Farewell for 2020 I would like to take this opportunity to celebrate and acknowledge the achievements and dedication of all our students, teaching and non-teaching staff and our wonderful parent community. This year has been an incredibly challenging one for all and the strength and flexibility of our community in facing these challenges is something I am extremely proud of. A reminder that there are now two staff development days for the start of 2021. Students in Years 1 to 6 will resume school on Friday 29 January. Kindergarten begins Monday 1 February. COVID19 guidelines for 2021 will be communicated prior to the students’ return next year. It is anticipated that parents will be able to enter the school grounds to drop off and pick up students. Students will return to their 2020 class until classes are finalised and formed. Staffing Update As the year comes to a close, we are busy planning our staffing for 2021. Congratulations to Lauren Kenny who was successful in gaining a permanent Assistant Principal position at Middle Harbour through merit selection. Lauren has been relieving in this role and we are thrilled to welcome her permanently onto our school executive team. Enrolment numbers have fluctuated in the past week, impacting the allocation of teachers for 2021. Only a few enrolments or leavers can increase or decrease the number of classes and teachers we are allocated each year. It is therefore imperative that you inform the school if your child is not returning in 2021. The following link has previously been provided in recent newsletters and Skoolbag notices: https://forms.gle/gokaqcFq6eC4m7TH6 If you have not informed us that your child is leaving, please do so via this link immediately. Equally, if you know of anyone in the area intending to enrol, please encourage them to do so as soon as possible. Your attention to this is greatly appreciated. Teacher placement and the announcement of classes and any further staffing changes will be communicated when school resumes. Celebration of Learning Congratulations to the students who received an award at our Celebration of Learning Assemblies this week and last week. A recording of each of these assemblies will be sent out via Skoolbag soon. Unfortunately a technical glitch occurred during the recording of the Year 5 & 6 assembly, so a recording of the script has been dubbed over the video so the names and words celebrating student achievement can be heard! A huge thank you to Miss Lee, Miss Geddes and Miss Irving for organising these events. Wishing all our families a safe, restful and wonderful holiday and happy festive season. Laura Barry Principal

Student Leaders 2021 Congratulations to the Year 5 students who have been elected as School Leaders for 2021. We look forward to our 2021 leaders contributing positively to the school and the wider community. They will be an inspiration to other students.

OUT AND ABOUT

https://forms.gle/gokaqcFq6eC4m7TH6

MHPS School Leaders 2021 Senior Leaders: Charlotte S Harry D Ashby T Malaika C Heidi A Ariel S Captains: Molly D Zale M

Technology Leaders: Nicolas C Jack W Sam G Hannah IW Sienna M Jack H Zach S Archie C George K Hudson B Rory K Scarlett R Mitchell E Amelia C School Planning 2021-2024 – Community Consultation

During this last term, all public schools across NSW have been engaging in a process of deep reflection and evaluation to identify priorities for the 2021- 2024 School Improvement Plan. As part of this process as well as our External Validation, our staff have developed a comprehensive situational analysis looking inward at school and student data in order to develop a deeper understanding of how to better improve student learning outcomes. As we continue to look inward, outward and forward, we are keen to seek input from our parent and wider school community through a number of community consultation opportunities. The first of these is a short survey designed to align Department of Education goals with school goals in a Middle Harbour PS context. The survey can be accessed via the following link. https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/BC669K2 Stewart House GIVING TREE

Children at Stewart House take part in a unique 12-day residential program designed to support their social, emotional and physical wellbeing. While in residence, children receive birthday gifts. Also, all our students take part in a rewards program where special High Five Dollars are awarded for the children demonstrating safety, having a go, and being kind and fair during their stay. The children then redeem the dollars by selecting gifts to take home.

Your generous gifts will help alleviate some of the stress surrounding the gift-giving season and ensure that children at Stewart House can enjoy the festive season, and partake in celebrations along with their peers. Thank you again for thinking of our children and for helping put a great big smile on their faces. Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas and please stay safe! Olga and Aimee

Sports Leaders 2021 Fraser Orlando L Arabella B Henricks Harvey K Louisa S Jackson Max P Claudia G Landy Sebastian M Leah S

Library Leaders: Matilda B Malaika C Guia M Elliott H Amelia C

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/BC669K2

Year 6 Chinatown Excursion

Year 6 went on an exciting excursion to Chinatown in the city. The purpose of this outing was to apply the Mandarin phrases taught in the classroom in real life situations. Students were taken to a restaurant in the area, where they could only order their meals in Mandarin. The day started with getting on a bus to the city. After a short walk, Year 6 reached Chinatown. Everyone was given a small list of questions to answer, all of which revolved around the area. In a few minutes, all students were lined up outside of the restaurant before being escorted to their tables in small groups. All children displayed the core value of personal best while speaking in Mandarin. When the dining had come to an end, Year 6 was taken to one more site. On Kimberly Lane, students were taken to see artist Jason Wing’s street artwork. The day was rounded off with a few minutes of free play in Darling Harbour’s playground. By Aditi S.

The winner of Felicity Wilson’s Christmas card competition:

Congratulations to Brendan S as his Christmas card design was chosen by the North Shore Member of Parliament, Felicity Wilson, to use for all her Christmas Cards this year. Well done Brendan!

Carole Jaye Deputy Principal

If you have a child starting Kindergarten in 2021 please enrol them now. 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 Middle Harbour Public School website – link Enrolment at MHPS

2. Scan/email completed forms, with all additional documents to the school, at middleharb-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

KINDERGARTEN ENROLMENTS 2021

https://enrol.education.nsw.gov.au/#/?schoolCode=2543&catchmentLevel=primaryhttps://middleharb-p.schools.nsw.gov.au/about-our-school/enrolment.htmlhttps://education.nsw.gov.au/parents-and-carers/online-enrolment-for-nsw-public-schools

If you need to purchase new uniforms the Uniform shop is open on Thursday 28 January by appointment only. Please email the mhpsuniformshop@gmail.com to book.

The uniform shop will also be open on Friday 29 January from 8.30am to 10.30am.

It will revert to normal opening hours on Tuesday and Fridays from Term 1, week 2.

TERM 4 2020 DECEMBER

T4 Wk 10 – Tuesday 15 All Stages - fun day - at school/movies T4 Wk 10 – Wednesday 16 Year 6 Talent Show/Tunnel T4 Wk 10 – Wednesday 16 Last day of term 4 for students

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 – Monday 1 From 12.45pm in the hall – Check in for 2020 senior and concert band

keyboard, percussion, sax, trombones, baritones, trumpets, and E Bass T1Wk 2 – Tuesday 2 Kindergarten students attend school T1Wk 2 – Tuesday 2 From 12.45pm in the hall – Check in for 2020 training band sax,

trombone, baritones, trumpets, E Bass, keyboard and percussion T1Wk 2 – Wednesday 3, Thursday 4 & Friday 5

Kindergarten Best Start (as per appointment)

T1Wk 2 – Wednesday 3 From 7.45am in the hall – Check in for 2020 senior and concert band oboe, flutes, and clarinets

T1Wk 2 – Thursday 4 From 7.45am in the hall – Check in for 2020 training band clarinets and flutes

T1 Wk 3 – Monday 8 7.45am - 2021 Training band first rehearsal T1 Wk 3 – Monday 8 12.45pm - 2021 Concert band first rehearsal T1 Wk 3 – Tuesday 9 12.45pm - 2021 Senior band first rehearsal T1 Wk 3 – Tuesday 9, Wednesday 10 Online safety webinar – Cyberbullying and Online Drama T1 Wk 4 – Monday 15 Online safety webinar – Cyberbullying and Online Drama

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

Centre T1Wk 7 – Thursday 11 Year 6 students - Year 7, 2022 Selective High School placement test T1 Wk 9 – Monday 22 Online safety webinar – National Day of Action Against Bullying and

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

UNIFORM SHOP HOURS WEEK 1

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY

mailto:mhpsuniformshop@gmail.com

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

https://primaryethicsnew.files.wordpress.com/2018/10/position-description-ethics-teacher-oct-20181.pdfhttps://primaryethicsnew.files.wordpress.com/2018/10/position-description-ethics-teacher-oct-20181.pdfmailto:dpizzari@hotmail.com