Week 2, Term 1 | 7 February 2025

Strategic Initiative: Measure and assess the effectiveness of our community engagement and the levels of satisfaction with all our strategic initiatives.

Many of our parents will be aware that in Term 4 2024, I commissioned an independent, confidential 'experience' survey of parents (Early Entry to Year 6), and students (Years 5 and 6) as part of our commitment to continually monitoring and improving the quality of education we provide to our students.

The research was conducted by MMG Education, a specialist education consultancy that works with schools in the areas of school strategic reviews and stakeholder satisfaction. MMG’s client schools include many schools across Australia.

The surveys were extensive, covering in excess of 300 aspects of education at the School. We are very grateful to the 102 parents who completed the 2024 survey.

The information is most important for the School for our operational and strategic planning, as well as for tracking changes in our performance. It will aid us significantly in our dedication to providing consistent exceptional boys’ education during the critical foundational years.

Below you will find a snapshot of the MMG results (provided by MMG) for your interest.

Parent Survey Key Areas were all rated in the highest category ‘Very High’ (>80%), with the overall school average being 5% above the MMG average (5,604 respondents from MMG Independent Junior Schools).

Parents Expectations Met or Exceeded

A selection of parents' top-level findings can been seen below, ranked in order of the importance the parents placed on reasons for choosing a school for their son.

The top five areas are noted below:

1. 95% of parents noted their expectations were met or exceeded in relation to the Quality of teaching.
2. 89% of parents noted their expectations were met or exceeded in relation to the Focus on student wellbeing, providing a safe and caring environment.
3. 91% of parents noted their expectations were met or exceeded in relation to a Balanced challenging education.
4. 89% of parents noted their expectations were met or exceeded in relation to The leadership of the School.
5. 93% of parents noted their expectations were met or exceeded in relation to the Academic standards.
   

The following charts detail the percentage of parents who noted their expectations had been met or exceeded across key areas, ranked in order of the importance they placed on these same areas when choosing the School for their sons. For example, 95% of parents noted their expectations had been met or exceeded for ‘Quality of teaching' (the noted most important area).

Parents and students were asked to provide open responses to the most valued aspects of Mosman Prep. The most frequently nominated aspects were:

Below you will see some of the 'open ended' comments from parents in relation to what they valued about their experience with the School.

While we are very pleased with the survey results, collecting data and feedback is only helpful if you respond appropriately to make positive change.

The Mosman Prep Staff are excited to be working with the goals, initiatives, projects, and success measures, which have been informed by our strategic priorities and the MMG survey data.

Once again, our sincere thanks to the 2024 responding parents for their feedback and for the extent of information and quality of views expressed.

Peter Grimes | Headmaster

Parent Quotes on what they value about Mosman Prep

• MCEPS is the right fit for my son, building his confidence through opportunity, inclusion and getting to give a broad range of activities to try at an early age, in a safe and community-oriented environment. The format of education is tailored well for boys’ learning styles. Building lasting friendships in the community.
• The incredible staff and their relationships and positive impact on my boys! Focus on academics and excellence, in combination with values and community responsibility (GoodChap).
• I see the school values coming through in my sons. A community-based school with great values and tradition and incredible staff.
• Ensuring that our sons are learning in an environment where they feel supported and valued.
• Everything - the leadership, the discipline, the role modelling, the genuine educator investment in the students, the community, the opportunities to extend skills across all domains.
• The school has good values, and encourages strong Christian values, and provides an encouraging and safe environment for students to pursue their Christian faith.
• Academic opportunities.
• The quality of the teachers and the positive behaviour of the students. The teachers are dedicated and passionate, making learning engaging and inspiring. This creates a supportive environment where students feel encouraged to thrive. Additionally, the respectful and friendly mannerisms of the boys contributes to a welcoming atmosphere, making it a great place to learn and grow together.
• My son loves his school, and he is very proud of being a Mosman Prep boy. He’s eager to learn and loves spending time in library and sports as well.
• We feel included as a family and it caters very well for our son’s development academically, socially and spiritually.
• Leadership of the Headmaster, connection with teachers by both our son and us, learning support, values driven.
• Amazing staff, excellent leadership opportunities, well rounded academic experience and well prepared for senior school.
• Brilliant school for boys. Compassionate yet strict.
• Caring staff, well rounded both academically and sports. Prepares students well for daily life at private high schools. Gives all boys opportunities to lead others.
• Community spirit, attention to children’s wellbeing, quality of education, balance and diversity or extracurriculars, sports experiences.
• Each boy is individually valued. It feels like a safe community. Boys are encouraged to believe in themselves and excel. Tailored to how boys learn (and need to be active)… and above all, the camaraderie through sports!
• Excellent dealing with our son’s neurodiversity diagnosis and supporting his development. Excellent teachers and resources and curriculum.
• Excellent teachers and facilities, small class sizes, strong and supportive community, emphasis on both sport and academics.
• Excellent values and culture, great environment.
• Fantastic teachers, community spirit. Parents and the level of care.
• Great results for our son since joining.
• Friendly environment, strong academic training, comprehensive sports and music training, great leadership, responsible teachers.
• Good school values, particularly those related to, or connected to, the Christian faith.
• Great place for young-gentlemen-in-training.
• Great school community, academically very competitive and strong. Teachers are also excellent.
• It is a smaller school, strong focus on community, academics, Christian Studies, Sports and Art and others building a well-rounded education. There is a strong focus on modelling the right behaviour and morals.
• It is a beautiful school, with strong Christian values and a loving and nurturing culture. The teachers are amazing and there is very strong leadership.
• It is a great school with good leadership.
• It is an excellent school. The boys are cared for. It is well run and has strong leadership from Mr Grimes.
• MCEPS provides the academic and sports learning opportunities and also the Christian focus and beautiful community. The Headmaster, Head of's and all educators are professional and personable and invested!
• Mosman Prep has offered our son a wealth of opportunity socially, academically, within his community and on the sports field. He leaves the school to start Y7 in 2025 incredibly well prepared.
• Mosman Prep is extraordinary in the way they nurture every child.
• Multiple. Discipline - school spirit- sense of being part of something- good educators and support services.
• My son is thriving at the school.
• Quality of teaching staff is excellent.
• Strict rules, old fashioned manners, sport offerings and the fact you pick up spelling mistakes, do times tables and our son now sings at the top of his voice.
• Such a broad range of curriculum, gives children confidence in all areas to go forward more than prepared for high school.
• The culture and challenge program.
• The ethos of the school is embedded in every activity and the values are really lived out by the teachers and admin. The headmaster leads by example and sets such a positive tone and confidence in nurturing young boys.
• The school has been a very positive experience for our son and for us as parents. The teachers and administration staff are wonderful and we felt the sense of belonging from day one. The friendships we formed with other families as meaningful and the kids love spending time together outside school as well. Academic excellence is very important for us and the school delivered beyond our expectations.
• The school has been nothing short of amazing, we could not be happier. It's such an amazing school, we feel so lucky our son got to experience it.
• The school leadership and teachers are outstanding and each boy is known so well in their learning journey. The Christian foundation is important to us and the school values are integral to every aspect of school life.
• The sense of community, and the caring nature of the teachers and staff. I feel they really know my son well.
• The staff are amazing and I feel that my son is really looked after like an individual.
• The teachers are caring and nurturing and the support structures around the boys are second to none.
• Very nurturing environment, very passionate and professional teaching staff, great school values.
• We have 2 sons that have/attend Mosman Prep. We have had really positive experiences with both our boys who are very different. My boys have always had amazing teachers and experiences at the school. This faith-based school teaches respect, morals and community. I would also mention how well the school handled Covid lock-downs. We have had some challenges like all kids have and Prep has handled our issues very well. We have had experiences in other schools and currently have a daughter in a private school. Hands down Prep will always be our favourite school.
• We have been so impressed by the school year after year.

Trybooking link https://www.trybooking.com/CXUUU

“He has done everything well.” (mark 7:37)

What does it mean to be excellent? Does it mean being the best at everything? Winning every game? Getting perfect grades? While doing our best is important, true excellence is more than just success—it’s about giving our best effort, making the right choices, and helping others along the way.

Jesus is the perfect example of excellence. He didn’t just do things well—he did them with love, kindness, and purpose. Whether he was teaching, healing, or even washing his disciples’ feet, he gave his very best. In Mark 7:37, people said about Jesus, “He has done everything well.” That’s what excellence looks like—not just being great at something, but doing it in a way that honours God and serves others.

Excellence isn’t just about talent; it’s about character. Jesus was excellent in his patience, compassion, and obedience to God. He never took shortcuts or acted selfishly. Instead, he worked hard, stayed humble, and showed love to everyone—even those who didn’t deserve it.

So how can we be excellent like Jesus and help foster excellence in our children? We can do our best in school, not just to get good grades, but to learn and grow. We can train hard in sports, not just to win, but to be a good teammate. We can help others, not for praise, but because it’s the right thing to do.

Excellence isn’t about being perfect—it’s about always giving our best with the right heart. Jesus shows us that true excellence is about more than skill; it’s about character, effort, and love. Let’s follow his example and strive to do all things well!

Blessings,

Rev. Daryl Diener | School Chaplain and Deputy of Pastoral Care

At Mosman Prep, we are committed to fostering safe and responsible online habits for our students. Over the next two weeks, we will be running a Safer Internet Week campaign, raising awareness of online safety and equipping our students with essential skills to navigate the digital world.

This initiative aligns with the global Safer Internet Day, led by the Office of the eSafety Commissioner, and we will be using their high-quality resources to educate and empower our students. Through engaging discussions, activities, and practical lessons, we will explore key topics such as cyberbullying, privacy, respectful online behaviour, and digital well-being.

To support these efforts at home, we encourage families to also explore the eSafety Commissioner's 5 Tips for a Safer Internet:

Be Kind – Encourage respectful and positive interactions online.
Be Mindful – Promote balanced and responsible screen time.
Speak Up – Teach children how to report online harm.
Start the Conversation – Discuss online safety regularly as a family.
Share Resources – Utilise trusted safety tools and guidance.

For more details, visit the eSafety Commissioner's website.

By working together, we can create a safer and more positive online environment for our children.

We’re thrilled to launch VEX Robotics at Mosman Prep, an innovative program that brings STEM learning to life through hands-on problem-solving.

Starting next Monday from 3:15-5:15pm, this exciting enrichment opportunity is open to Stage 2 and Stage 3 students.

Through VEX, students will:
Build and program their own robots
Develop computational thinking and engineering skills
Drive and operate robots in real-world challenges

Led by expert coaches from Sydney Robotics Academy, this program is a fantastic opportunity to dive into the world of robotics.

Only a few spots left—book now through the Enrichment Program information!

This year, we are excited to partner with ScopeIT to bring hands-on digital technology lessons to our Stage 2 and Stage 3 students. These sessions take place fortnightly on Friday afternoons when students are not at sport training.

Today, Year 3 and Year 4 had their first coding lesson with two instructors from ScopeIT. Next Friday afternoon, Year 5 and Year 6 will begin their course.

Hello and welcome back to the Mosman Prep community from your School Counsellors Merel and Skye. We hope you had a refreshing holiday filled with quality time with your loved ones.

For any new families joining the Prep community, we extend a very warm welcome to you. Merel Dekkers is the School Psychologist on Mondays and Wednesdays, and Skye Adams is the School Counsellor on Mondays and Tuesdays. Together we are responsible for supporting whole school wellbeing, as well as small group and individual targeted counselling sessions. We can also refer you to external counselling support services. 

Feel free to call the School if you have any questions and would like to speak to us in person, or you can email any inquiries to:

Merel’s email schoolcounsellor@mosmanprep.nsw.edu.au
Skye’s email sadams@mosmanprep.nsw.edu.au 

As we begin the school term, just a few things to help your child if they are starting school for the first time, or feeling a bit apprehensive on returning. Starting school can be an emotional time for your child. They may have many questions and feel a range of emotions from excitement and joy to anxiety and overwhelm. Raising children has some great practical tips for those first few big weeks.   

Next Tuesday 11 February is Safer Internet Day, so we wanted to let you know The eSafety Commissioner website hosts a series of FREE 30 minute webinars for parents and carers. They are covering relevant topics such as “Supporting healthy tech use as your child transitions into high school.” (30 minutes). Also “Algorithms and adolescents: The rewards and risks of recommender systems for young people.” (30 minutes). For more information and their yearly calendar, look on their website. We highly recommend taking advantage of these free webinars.

We hope to meet you all face to face soon, and have a great start to Term 1, 2025!

Be kind to yourselves.

Merel Dekkers and Skye Adams | School Counsellors

Merel Dekkers

Skye Adams 

Our Early Entry (EE) students have been busy creating their very own weekly restaurant every Friday! The children have been working hard to plan their menu, organise shopping lists, and prepare for their special guests.

This week the restaurant served delicious smoothies and fruit skewers, a refreshing treat for all. It was a fantastic opportunity for the children to practise teamwork, planning, and hospitality while having fun!

We look forward to seeing what next week's menu will bring!

Jessica Elvey | Early Entry Teacher

Welcome back to another exciting school year! The School library is excited to open its doors once again and be a hub for learning, exploration, and imagination.

As you step into the library, you'll find a treasure trove of books waiting to transport you to different worlds, spark your curiosity, and inspire your creativity. Whether you're a returning student or new to our School, the library is here to be your haven for both academic pursuits and leisurely escapes.

This year, we have some exciting plans and activities in store for you. Including competitions, reading challenges, author visits and themed displays. Allowing plenty of opportunities to engage with literature in new and exciting ways. Keep an eye out for announcements and join us on this literary journey!

Bookclub starts this week. Keep an eye out for the flyer your son will bring home.

To place your order, simply follow the Link - Scholastic Books

Lisa Maiden | Teacher Librarian

Please be advised that the email address for our Volunteer account published in last week's Messenger was incorrect. The correct address is provided below.

As part of our commitment to student safety and well-being, Mosman Prep adheres to the Child Safe Standards set by the Office of the Children's Guardian. To comply with these standards, all parent volunteers wishing to assist with the Canteen, Terrey Hills, or Excursions must complete the attached Volunteer Information Form.

The form requests the following details:

• Working With Children Check (WWC) number: For verification purposes only.
• Date of Birth (DOB): Required for WWC verification.

Please note:

The form includes references to relevant Mosman Prep policies, accessible on our website.

How to submit the form:

• Correct email address to send the completed form to volunteer@mosmanprep.nsw.edu.au

Thank you for your time and cooperation in ensuring a safe and supportive environment for all our students.

Julie Shortland | EA to the Headmaster

Mosman Prep School Coach 

Bookings are open for Term 1 2025, Chatswood route. Also now available is the option to purchase an Annual Pass. Please see the link below:

2025 School Coach Bookings - Chatswood Route

Queenwood Service

Mosman Prep has also partnered with Queenwood to offer more transport options for families. Positions on this service are subject to availability; priority is given to Queenwood students. For more information visit: https://www.queenwood.nsw.edu.au/Student-Life/School-Transport

The Junior Primary Swimming Carnival was held at Manly ‘Boy’ Charlton Swim Centre on Wednesday this week. It was highly pleasing to see so many boys competing and performing well. All boys are to be commended on their efforts at the carnival.

Thank you to the parents who came to cheer on the boys! Many thanks to the teachers for their efforts in officiating and in particular Mr Johnston who coordinated the running of the carnival.

Age Champions: Aston Brell (7 Years), Charlie Love (8 Years)

Age Runners-up: Daniel Yates (7 Years), Dillon Wu (8 Years)

Age Champions will receive their medals at School. Place and participation ribbons will also be distributed at School.

Steve Riddett | Director of Sport

Links to Important Term 1, 2025 Sports Information below, and placed on the School Website:

• 2025 Term 1 Summer Sport Information
• 2025 Sport Dates
• 2025 Mosman Prep Summer Sport Squad Lists
• 2025 Term 1 IPSHA Saturday Sport Fixture List & Venue Addresses
• 2025 Basketball Singlet Numbers (required when purchasing basketball uniforms)
• IPSHA Codes of Behaviour for School Sport

Steve Riddett | Director of Sport

The Senior Primary Swimming Carnival was held last week in fantastic spirit at Cranbrook Senior School’s Swim Centre. Congratulations to all boys who took part and many thanks to all the parents and friends for their support. A huge thank you also to all the teachers who helped run the carnival so well in their various officiating roles.

Age Champions: Brendon Cai (9 Years), Lachlan Miller (10 Years), Luke Yates (11 Years), Lewis Barrett (12 Years)

Age Runners-Up: Jaxsen Varker-Miles (9 Years), Rupert Bateman (10 Years), Louis Timmins (11 Years ), Matthew Thomas (12 Years)

The E M von Tiedemann Trophy for long-distance swimming goes to: Matthew Thomas

The Gibb Cup (House Champions): Yarnold

The age champions and runners up received their medals at assembly today. Place and participation ribbons will also be distributed next week at School.

Steve Riddett | Director of Sport

Saturdays: On Saturdays the MCEPS Information Line will be updated between 6:30 and 7:00am. This number has the most up-to-date information the School can provide regarding matters of sport and excursions. Parents are to call this number and not the School Office. After heavy rain, Mosman Council often closes its grounds, so please check with this number for all school sport and excursion cancellations.

Weekdays: In case of inclement weather, please ring the Prep Information Line, which will be updated from 1:00pm. Ovals might be closed by Mosman Council on fine days, if the preceding days have been wet. It is therefore advised that parents should ring the School’s Information Line on training days if there has been recent rain. 

PLEASE NOTE:  if the message has not been updated, Sport is ON as scheduled.

Steve Riddett | Director of Sport

Dear Parents 

Canteen Volunteer Opportunity: Daily volunteers are essential to the School maintaining a cost-effective and smooth-running canteen service. As a parent volunteer, you'll work alongside canteen staff and serve the boys during busy recess periods, 10:20-11:20am. No kitchen or cooking experience required. Use this link to sign up for a 1-hour shift any day(s) during school term. Any questions about canteen volunteering, contact Jeff Brown @ 0400 410 737. 

As a matter of compliance, school volunteers must complete the Volunteer Form below, and have a current NSW Working with Children Check (WWCC). Send completed forms to volunteer@mosmanprep.nsw.edu.au

LINK - Volunteer Signup Form

Jeff Brown | P&F Committee, Canteen

Mosman Prep prides itself on its service to community, guided by our motto, Non Nobis Solum – Not for Ourselves Alone. In this spirit, in 2024 in partnership with the P&F, a school community initiative called ‘Meals with Love’ was launched.

This service provides home cooked evening meals for Mosman Prep families in times of need. All meals are cooked by parent and teacher volunteers and are available for as many evenings as required. This service is anonymous, so meals cooked by volunteers will be delivered to the office for collection by the family as coordinated by the School. 

If your family has a need for this service, please contact Julie Shortland at the School Office at ea@mosmanprep.nsw.edu.au.

If you are also interested in being a volunteer and cooking the occasional meal for a family in need, please contact our new Meals with Love Coordinator, Georgina Ridhalgh at GRidhalgh@hlbnsw.com.au. 

I'd like to thank Georgina for taking up the Coordinator role and also all the wonderful volunteers who have cooked meals this year. It has been a pleasure to create this service for the Mosman Prep community and have it continue.

Meals with Love Coordinator

For the schedule of school events, please refer to the online calendar, which can be found HERE.