Dear Families

As we head into Term 2 I wanted to share a timely reminder about the importance of school attendance.  In Term 2 our average daily attendance was 88%.  For great outcomes to be achieved our average daily attendance needs to be above 90%. 

We love seeing your child at school every day – it’s the best place for them to learn. It’s a chance to be around their friends, learn new things (including life skills), spark their curiosity and have fun. Term 2 is packed with exciting events including excursions, performances, Readers' Cup, Cross Country Carnival, Book Fair, discos, and Pyjama Day!

For tips on creating positive attendance habits, visit the Anything can happen website.

For your child to achieve their potential they need to be at school everyday unless they are unwell, on time, and stay the whole day. Please talk to us if you are having difficulty getting your child to school. We are here to help and support is available. 

Sharon

This Friday we have 8 students who will represent the Launceston State Schools Sports Association (LSSSA) at the State Athletics Carnival at the Northern Athletics Centre at St. Leonards. Congratulations and best wishes to:

A reminder to parents that you are required to transport your child to and from the venue. Racing starts at 10:45.am. Go Mowbray!

Josh Leighton - HPE Teacher

Congratulations to the following students who received awards at our last assembly.

Bootcamp @ Heritage Forest

Kingball Glen Dhu Primary School v MHPS

Netball MHPS v Waverly Primary School

Football MHPS - Bye

Soccer MHPS v East Launceston Primary School

Library bags are given out to students during their first library lesson. Books borrowed from the library travel to and from school in this bag. Please keep all library books in this bag when they are not being read. Library bags will be collected at the end of Term 4.

Our Library Technician is Ms Angela Rose-Eadie and the teacher in the library is Mrs Sharon Rafferty.

The library is open Monday to Thursday from 8:30 am to 3:00 pm and students are welcome to exchange books on these days. They do not have to wait until their allocated class library day.

Library Team - Mrs Rafferty & Ms Eadie

On Wednesday 14 May, our Year 3-6 students will be involved in our annual Cross Country Carnival which will be held at the Mowbray Racecourse from 11:20 am – 12:45 pm. Students will be walking to the venue. 

If weather prevents us from holding the carnival on Wednesday 14 we will try again the following Wednesday, 21 May.

We encourage students to wear shoes appropriate for physical activity, their black school shorts and a t-shirt in their house colours. Your child has been placed in a house group. House colours are as follows:      

Beatty – Blue

Jellico – Yellow

Cadorna – White

Please ensure that your child has adequate water for the morning. It is advised that students bring a change of clothes and a spare pair of socks and shoes if wet.

Here is the Carnival race schedule (approximate times): 

Families and friends are most welcome to attend this event and show their support.  Please know that you are welcome to take photos and videos of your own children, however in line with DECYP Safeguarding expectations, sharing images of other children without permission from their parents or guardians is not permitted.

Josh Leighton - HPE teacher       

This term we are excited to share with families that the Year 3/4 classes will benefit from having an additional teacher in their classroom on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, during Numeracy lessons. 

During this time, the class will be exploring NUMBER and a Numeracy Support Teacher will be working with a small group of students to support their understanding in this area.  Understanding NUMBER is really important for all learning in Maths, however children do learn at different rates. 

Some students have been identified to work in a small group with the Numeracy Support Teacher.  If your child has been selected to be a part of this group, they will bring home a letter to families in the coming weeks.

Janaha Williams (Numeracy Support Leader) and Zoe Galloway (AST)

All students from Year 4, 5 and 6 will be visiting the University of Tasmania (Newnham Campus) to work with the Centre for Human Movement pre-service teachers. Our students will participate in a variety of sporting activities over the next three weeks, for one-hour sessions.  The students will be walking to UTAS and busing back to MHPS if the weather is fine.  Buses will be provided both ways if it rains.

Cindy Wright - Assistant Principal

On Thursday 15 May, our Year 5-6 classes will travel to the Princess Theatre to watch the Launceston Church Grammar School’s production, Grease.  The performance is a child friendly version. Following this, students will be having lunch in City Park.

Students must be in full school uniform on this day. Sunscreen will be available, however, if your child is sensitive to the sunscreen provided by the school, please make sure you provide an alternative.  Students need to take food and water for both recess and lunch, and bring a coat in case of cold weather.

Buses will leave school at 10:15 am and return to school before 3:00 pm.

Year 5-6 Teachers

The Buzz will be starting a new group of beginners in Term 2.

What is The Buzz?

• The Buzz is a beginner brass band facilitated by volunteer members of the City Of Launceston RSL Band.
• Instruments on offer are cornet, trombone, trombone mini and euphonium. All learner instruments are made of plastic and are ideal for children.
• The Buzz lessons are weekly on a Thursday afternoon from 3:10 pm - 4:00 pm. Lessons take place in the school PAC. Students will need to be collected from the PAC at 4:00 pm.
• There is no charge for lessons, instrument hire or book hire. We do expect that all students will take care of borrowed instruments and books and be responsible for bringing them to school on Thursdays.

Learning any musical instrument is a challenge and requires patience, persistence, a positive attitude and plenty of practice.  Learning a brass instrument has the added challenge of producing a sound (a buzz).  Students who join The Buzz need to be prepared to practise at home in order to make progress on their instrument.

If your child is interested in joining The Buzz they can see Mrs Partridge for more information. You can also email Mrs Partridge at cherie.partridge@decyp.tas.gov.au if you have any queries.

As the cooler months approach, it's important to be aware that winter can present additional challenges for people with asthma. Cold air, respiratory infections, and indoor allergens can all contribute to asthma flare-ups.

Cold, dry air can irritate the airways, leading to increased asthma symptoms. Additionally, winter is a peak season for colds and flu, which can trigger asthma flare-ups. Indoor heating can also stir up dust and other allergens, affecting indoor air quality.

Here's how we can work together to keep our children healthy and active during winter:

Be Asthma-ready with a review

Asthma Australia recommend people with asthma see their GP at least twice a year for a review. As children grow or recover from illness, their asthma medication may need to be adjusted. Regular check-ups ensure the treatment remains effective and safe.

Having an up-to-date Asthma Action Plan

This plan should outline daily preventer and reliever medications, instructions for recognizing and responding to worsening symptoms, and emergency contact information.

Promote Consistent Medication Use

• Take preventer medications daily, even when feeling well
• Use reliever medications as prescribed during symptoms
• Ensure proper inhaler technique and device use.

Encourage Physical Activity

Physical activity is vital for overall health. Encourage children to engage in indoor exercises during extremely cold days such as yoga or dancing. Monitor for asthma symptoms when exercising outside on cold days.

For further support, please contact Asthma Australia’s free information and support service at 1800 ASTHMA (1800 278 462) for advice and resources.

By proactively addressing these areas, we can significantly contribute to the well-being of people with asthma during the winter months.

Nurse Pia

Just a friendly reminder to be mindful of our school neighbours and not park over their driveways.  Parking over driveways prevents our neighbours from leaving and returning to their homes.