Recognising Excellence We are extremely proud of our amazing Mrs Carole Jaye who has received the NSW Public Schools Executive Director School Performance Recognition Award for Term 3 2020. Mrs Jaye received this prestigious award for her significant contribution to NSW Public Schools throughout her career, reflective of the Department’s values of excellence, trust, integrity, equity and service. Mrs Jaye has been teaching and leading in NSW public schools for over 30 years and is an extremely deserving recipient of this award. Congratulations Mrs Jaye, we are so proud! Generosity and Wellbeing An act generosity is a wonderful way to boost wellbeing, not just for those receiving, but also those giving and we are immensely proud of the generosity our school community showed last term raising over $15,000 for the Heart Foundation through our Jump Rope for Heart campaign. Generosity comes in many forms and the amazing generosity of time, energy and spirit of Ms Hannon and Ms Geddes and the entire Whipper Skipper Team is also greatly appreciated, as well as our wonderful staff and Mr Steve who skipped for students as funding targets were achieved. A huge thank you to all who supported this wonderful cause – I hope you received the ‘warm fuzzies’ of wellbeing you deserve.

The Show Must Go On It did….and boy, did we have fun! Our last week of Term 3 was a buzz of excitement and activity as we went ahead with our ‘virtual’ 2020 School Show. Students and teachers enjoyed the opportunity to kick off their shoes and showcase for each other some of their musical talents. Thank you again to the wonderful Mrs Molloy and Mrs Robertson for constant flexibility to get it done! While we were unable to invite our families in as a live audience this year, we look forward to sharing a recording of both K-2 and 3-6 shows with you very soon.

Planning for 2021 This term we will begin to plan and formulate classes for 2021. If you have information relating to your child’s class placement in 2021 which you feel we need to be made aware, please advise the school by completing the following form: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/Z9GYFH3 . It is important to read the MHPS Formation of Classes Policy before you request special consideration for class placement. Please note:

• Requests for special consideration should focus on the learning and wellbeing needs of your child • Selection of teacher is not an option • Complete this form even if you have made these requests in previous years.

While we will take this information into consideration when forming classes, not all requests will be met, owing to the many factors that need to be considered when forming classes. The link to submit special considerations for class placements will remain open until 5pm on Friday 27 November. Please kindly note that the school will not be able to consider 2021 class placement requests after this time. Laura Barry Principal

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

Kindergarten 2021 Transition Mornings

The school will hold Kindy Transition mornings in November. The format is currently being finalised and parents/carers will be notified shortly. Carole Jaye Deputy Principal

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 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

To comply with the latest advice from NSW Health to minimise the risk of COVID-19 transmissions, the annual Opportunity Class Placement Test will now take place at a student’s own school rather than in examination centres which bring students from across settings and sectors together. To allow this change to be made, the test date is now 18 November 2020. The department acknowledges the challenges faced by students during the pandemic response. The safety of our students and staff is of paramount importance. Marking of tests and student placements will continue to be managed by the High Performing Students Team. Only students whose parents have received a confirmation email from the High Performing Students Team are eligible to sit the test on the new date of 18 November. Please note the application portal will not be re-opened for new applications.

NOT RETURNING TO MHPS IN 2021?

KINDERGARTEN ENROLMENTS 2021

OPPORTUNITY CLASS PLACEMENT TEST UPDATE

Book Week 2020 Our favourite time of the year commences 19 October (week 2, term 4) To celebrate Book Week we are running the following activities and events:

Costume time! K-4: Dress up as a book character on their designated library day in week 2 Stage 3 Classes: All Year 5/6 students to dress up on Thursday 22 October 2020

**No ‘mufti’ please. If students are not participating, please ensure they are in their school uniform ** Author Talk

Various classes will be participating in an author talk via Zoom with Lindsay Holliday the author of ‘an exciting new Australian adventure series… Danger Versus the Ranger…inspires children to make friends and include others’. Thank you to Mosman Library for facilitating this event.

VIPs Storytelling Time

MHPS students will be treated to a ‘story a day’ filmed by some of our schools’ VIPs in costume!

PRC Words and Art Competition 2020 – Stage 2 We are pleased to announce that the following students were chosen as winners of the MHPS art and writing competition. These students, as well as those receiving ‘highly commended’ had their art and writing pieces submitted to the official PRC competition (a state-wide competition inspired by books on the Premier’s Reading Challenge list). Well done stage 2!

Top 3 art pieces:

Olivia, Amelie and Matilda 4T

‘Harry Potter’

By JK Rowling

Zoe D and Izzy V 3/4J

‘Sisters’ By Raina Telgemeier

Vashani, Elena, Claudia and Vila 4T

‘Black Beauty’ By Anna Sewell

Sarah Rosenberg & Sarah Merrick Teacher Librarians

LIBRARY NEWS

Congratulations Middle Harbour for your enthusiasm and support for our Jump Rope for Heart program this year. We are excited to announce that collectively we raised $15,053 and logged 271 hours of skipping, which is incredible! A big thank you to those students and families who fundraised and to the Whipper Skippers for promoting such an important cause.

The NSW Governor Margaret Beazley has recorded a personal thank you message to Middle Harbour to congratulate us on being in the top ten highest fundraising schools in NSW!

Please visit this link to view the message.

Serena Hannon & Savannah Geddes Jump Rope for Heart Coordinators

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.

YEAR 7 SELECTIVE HIGH SCHOOL PLACEMENT - 2022

2021 SCHOOL TRAVEL APPLICATIONS

JUMP ROPE FOR HEART 2020

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.

Due to the COVID 19, The Music Camp - our favourite music event which is held annually had to be cancelled. This is such a shame as our Middle Harbour children love spending time together and create music. All the String Ensembles and all the Bands participate and traditionally have great time making music over the weekend. However, we did manage to hold the String Workshop on Sunday 20 September. All the children involved in the programme came on a beautiful Sunday afternoon and we all truly enjoyed making music together. Our experienced conductors and inspiring musicians were making sure the children are fully involved. We also had a wonderful team of parent volunteers who gave up their afternoon in order to help the workshop to run smoothly. Our youngest members prepared a lovely performance of Jingle Bells and Ode to Joy which was performed with so much enthusiasm and energy. We believe this momentum will continue for a very long time ahead and we look forward to seeing these children grow! The Junior Strings had a joined performance with the Senior group of a challenging piece "Crocodile Hornpipe". The sound volume which the kids created was incredible and demonstrated how far they have improved. This was followed by a joyful performance of Vivaldi's Allegro from the Four Seasons. Seniors played a lovely piece by Loretta Finn – Snap, Crackle and Pop and a rendition of Waltzing Matilda. There was also a wonderful surprise performance when our Cello Tutor, Madeleine O’Dea, demonstrated her superb operatic voice, much to the delight of us all. We would also like to take this opportunity to welcome Mr Michael O’Dea to the MHPS Strings Program. He has joined as the conductor for the Senior String Ensemble and we feel very lucky to have his wealth of talent and experience. Dushanka Pizurica, Rachel Boden & Taylor Serawan

STRINGS WORKSHOP

TERM 4 2020 OCTOBER

T4Wk 2 – Monday 19 – Friday 23 Book week T4Wk 2 – Monday 19 6R and 5H to Brewongle T4Wk 2 – Tuesday 20 6I and 5K to Brewongle T4Wk 2 – Wednesday 21 6H and 5B to Brewongle T4Wk 2 – Friday 23 K-2 Cross Country Carnival T4Wk 2 – Friday 23 Year 6 – Surf School T4Wk 3 – Tuesday 27 P&C Meeting via Zoom T4 Wk 3 – Thursday 29 Cross Country years 3 – 6 T4 Wk 3 – Friday 30 Band Ear Test for all year 2 students and students from years 3, 4, and

5 interested in joining the school band program in 2021 T4 Wk 3 – Friday 30 World Teachers’ Day T4 Wk 3 – Friday 30 Kindy transition group A T4 Wk 3 – Friday 30 Year 6 – Surf School

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 – 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 7– Friday 27 Year 6 – Surf School

DECEMBER T4 Wk 8 – Thursday 3 Celebration of Learning Art & Sport (students only) T4 Wk 9– Tuesday 8 Celebration of Learning Assembly Stage 2 (students only) T4 Wk 9– Wednesday 9 Celebration of Learning 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) T4Wk 9 – Friday 11 Year 6 Mini-fete 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

Canteen will be maintaining the current opening hours Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from 8.30am – 2pm

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