Week 1, Term 2 | 28 April 2023

Once again, welcome to another new term, which promises to be full of rich and powerful learning experiences for the boys and community connection opportunities for us all.

A particularly warm welcome to the following families who have joined Mosman Prep at the commencement of Term 2. We are excited to have you as the newest members of our community!

Year EE - Jack Kennedy 
Year EE - Hugo McGuire
Year EE - Pierce Fillmann
Year 3 - Edison Drake
Year 3 - Oliver Bursik 

The inaugural Mosman Prep and Queenwood combined athletics carnival at the Sydney Olympic Park Warm up Arena, Homebush on Wednesday was a fabulous way to start the new term.

The carnival was a resounding success where we were able to witness and celebrate athletics, community connection, positive character in its many forms, and have lots of fun! The centre canteen operators commented to me that the Mosman Prep boys and Queenwood girls were amongst the best behaved they had ever seen.

Within our Strategic Direction: Towards 2028, our connection with Queenwood comes under the Strategic Pillar of ‘Community’, with our commitment to ‘Harness the strength of community and deepen our shared sense of belonging’. Here one of the ‘near initiatives’ is to ‘Further develop connections with other schools and establish new partnerships with girls’ schools.’ 

Having the opportunity to interact and develop healthy relationships with girls is very important for our boys. As they live out and grow in their understanding of our core values, respect, integrity and compassion they experience yet another dimension in their journey. We are thankful to have Queenwood Girls’ School only a few hundred metres down the road, and thankful that the Principal (Ms Elizabeth Stone), and Head of Junior School (Ms Anni Sandwell) are committed to, and passionate about, our students connecting in meaningful ways.

One of our ‘Foundation for the Future’ programs is titled ‘Queenwood Connections’, and our teacher programming template includes a Queenwood Connections cell - prompting teachers to consider powerful joint learning activities.

Recent connection activities have included: cooking, kite making and sporting activities at Terrey Hills, science presentations, mathematics games, gifted and talented sessions, visiting authors, combined tennis lessons and the much anticipated Year 6 disco.

We are committed to ensuring the experiences are rich and the learning maximised by using a simple but powerful scaffold:

Prepare - Ensure the boys are prepared to succeed in their interaction with the girls

Connect - Maximise positive connections

Reflect - Consider connection successes and growth areas

I am immensely thankful that during their most critical years of brain development (Primary schooling), we can dedicate our resources to teaching and learning strategies which target the specific needs of boys - the way they react to situations, interact with learning, and process information.

At the same time, I am excited that both the Mosman Prep and Queenwood Staff are committed to providing positive connection opportunities for our students, as they grow into young men and women who understand, and are involved in, healthy relationships. 

Peter Grimes | Headmaster

Where do our values come from? Family? Society? Social media? Religion? Whatever may be the source, one thing is for sure - our beliefs inform our values. This term in Chapel we will explore the richness of our school values that are sourced from the School’s Christian faith foundations. We will see the goodness and beauty of our Christian Values - Respect, Integrity, Compassion, Courage and Excellence. We will also see how God’s word helpfully illuminates our path in life.

Our Strategy Direction: Towards 2028 states: Our school values and faith foundations are a lighthouse for our relationships and learning. They guide us towards a life of integrity, courage in pursuit of excellence, and a commitment to live ‘Not for ourselves alone’.

Blessings,
Rev. Daryl Diener | School Chaplain

On Friday we had a special Assembly to commemorate ANZAC day which falls officially on 25 April each year. We paused to show Respect - one of our very important core School values. Respect for those members of the armed forces who fought for our freedom and safety. We formally recognised all those Australians (including Mosman Prep Old Boys and Teachers), who died in the many conflicts in which our country has been involved, and acknowledged the sacrifice and loss associated with war.

As Jesus says in John 15:12-13: My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.

We remember our service men and women with pride and gratitude. We are thankful for their bravery and sacrifice and give thanks to those who continue to serve today.

Welcome back to Term 2! We hope you all had a wonderful break and good quality time with those you love. 

Merel and myself are the School Counsellors at Mosman Prep, and we are delighted to work in such an excellent, vibrant and caring educational community. This term we will be writing articles on the importance of belonging: How can we help our children develop a sense of belonging in their friendships? How can we help them develop resilience against things like bullies or unhealthy comparison? How can we cultivate a school community that helps children belong, as their true authentic selves, not merely fit in.

We want to say a very warm welcome to our new families, and a reminder that if you have any concerns or you would like to book your child in for individual counselling sessions, you can contact Merel or myself by phoning the School or emailing us.

Merel: schoolcounsellor@mosmanprep.nsw.edu.au is here Mondays and Wednesdays.
Skye : sadams@mosmanprep.nsw.edu.au  is here Wednesdays and Thursdays.

Also don't forget to sign up for our Happy Families membership, and hear wonderful webinars and read insightful articles from Dr Justin Coulson. He gives applicable parenting tips for the time-poor parent, who just needs answers. Email us if you would like to know more.

We look forward to an exciting term ahead.

Be kind to yourselves,

Skye Adams | Provisional School counsellor 

This term boys will be starting a reading challenge called Prep Boys and Books. This will be done with boys in Years 3 to 6, instead of the Premiers Reading Challenge we have done in previous years.

The Reading Challenge will encourage boys to read a minimum of 10 books in Term 2 and 10 books in Term 3. Boys can select any books of their own reading level based on the 10 categories in the challenge. The books will be recorded on a chart during their library lessons each week. The books do not need to be from the school library. 

Mrs L Maiden | Teacher Librarian

This term our School will be sending a team to play in the NSTA Primary Schools Competition.

Please read the flyer below and if your son is interested then reply to Mrs Lisa Maiden via email (lmaiden@mosmanprep.nsw.edu.au), so that she can organise your son a tennis partner. You will need to fill in the form attached at the button below. 

This is only a commitment to the Term 2 Challenge. Mrs Maiden will be seeking teams each term.

You are then required to go online and register and pay for the competition. All further information is notified directly to you from Northern Districts Tennis.

https://nsta.com.au/schools/

For more information please contact Mrs Lisa Maiden (lmaiden@mosmanprep.nsw.edu.au).

We would appreciate you passing the information below onto appropriate non-Prep friends or family.

Applications for Scholarships in 2024. These scholarships will allow for remission of part tuition fees (up to 50%) throughout a student’s primary education through to Year 6. They are available for internal and external applicants, and are subject to satisfactory progress and review. 

Academic Scholarships for students entering Years 3, 4, and 5 will be awarded on the performance of the student in the scholarship examination to be held on Friday 19 May at the School. Applicants are also assessed on a portfolio of other achievements.

Music Scholarships for students entering Years 1 and 2 are offered to acknowledge the School’s commitment to and excellence in Creative Arts. There are two Music Scholarships on offer:

1. Aspiring musicians with a strong musical aptitude.
2. Musicians who have the ability to read music and have commenced playing either a String or Wind instrument. 

An interview with the Headmaster for short-listed candidates is an integral part of the process of awarding all scholarships.

Applications close: Friday 5 May      
Applications after this date will attract a $50.00 late fee.

Examination date: Friday 19 May
For further information and to apply, visit the website.

The Senior Primary (Yrs 3-6) Athletics Carnival was held at the Sydney Olympic Park Athletic Centre Warm Up Arena on Wednesday 26 April. What a special way to start the term!

A full report will be included in next week’s Messenger with presentations also to be made at school next week.

Winter Sport information has been sent to all parents and is also on the School website. Links below:

• 2023 Mosman Prep Winter Sport Information
• 2023 Football (Soccer) Teams Info
• 2023 Rugby Teams Info

Term 2 Saturday Sport: Rd 1 of IPSHA Winter Sport is 29 April (first Sat in Term 2) to Rd 7, 17 June.

Term 3 Saturday Sport: Rd 8 of IPSHA Winter Sport is 22 July (first Sat in Term 3) to Rd 10, 5 August. 

Linked HERE the Winter Sport Saturday Fixture List. This will also be placed on the School website. 

Please note, all times and venues are subject to change. Please check weekly team lists via School App, website and sports noticeboard (for boys to view).

Saturdays: On Saturdays the MCEPS Information Line will be updated between 6:30am 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 rain. 

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

It is with much excitement that we welcome parent volunteers back in to the Canteen to assist with Recess! 

Our wonderful canteen staff have done an incredible job in the past 2 years managing the canteen without volunteers! Parent volunteers are invited to come in to canteen every morning from 10:20-11:20am to assist with basic food preparation and serving the boys at the window during Recess. 

If you would like to sign up please choose your day on the following google document Link - Google spreadsheet. There are 2 volunteers for each session. Unlike previous years, we have not allocated days based on year group, we will just allow everyone to sign up to a time that works for them. Volunteering in the canteen is a great way to be involved with the School and the boys love to see the parents in the canteen window. 

All parent volunteers need to hold a current working with children check. Please email your WWCC number to headmaster@mosmanprep.nsw.edu.au at least one day prior to volunteering so the School can keep this on their records.

With the return of parent volunteers we will also have the return of canteen credits. Credits of $1, $2 or $3 can be purchased via Flexischools and redeemed by the boys at the canteen window for Recess. The canteen will remain cashless, with all purchases to be made via Flexischools.

If you have any questions please contact us at pandf@mosmanprep.nsw.edu.au 

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

Term 1
Monday 30 January - Thursday 6 April
Public Holidays: Friday 7 April (Good Friday); Monday 10 April (Easter Monday)

Term 2
Wednesday 26 April - Friday 23 June
Public Holidays: Tuesday 25 April (Anzac Day); Monday 12 June (Queen's Birthday)

Term 3
Tuesday 18 July - Friday 22 September

Term 4
Tuesday 10 October - Thursday 7 December 

The Recycled Uniform Shop is open on Tuesdays 7:45-8:15am.