The Year in Review
I would like to thank all our parents and extended families for their encouragement and support of our staff and the Prep Community this year. Your positive engagement in partnership, underpinned by trust and respect, has been incredibly empowering for us.
A special thank you to our 2023 Class Parents and P&F Committee for going above and beyond, especially Liz Fifield. I would like to acknowledge the following members of the P&F Committee for their devotion to the School, as they step down from their roles: Tamsin Birch (Year 6) communications, Laekin Rose (Year 5) Canteen and Sustainability initiatives, and Sheryl Fallon (Year 4) Uniform Shop.
Thank you to the School Council members for their time, wisdom and passionate engagement in support of the School, which is greatly appreciated by me. Special acknowledgement to our outgoing Chair Jennifer Lambert for her faithful service over 12 years, Bill Hooper (vice-chair) 7.5 years, and our incoming chair, Amanda Robertson, and incoming vice-chair Murray Chatfield.
Thank you also to our OBU Committee, especially outgoing Chair, Tommy Evans, Treasurer, Michael Cooper, and incoming Chair, Ben Jeavons-Fellows.
Staffing
We are so grateful for our outstanding staff team. They are the backbone of our school. Thank you to all our Prep Staff, including the administration, ground staff, peripatetic music staff, and canteen managers. Their professionalism, enthusiasm, ‘can do attitude’ and dedication to the boys and families of the School has been exceptional. I receive frequent words of praise from our parents regarding the fine quality of our Prep Staff.
This has been another particularly busy year as we have enacted our Strategic Initiatives. In their usual way, they have sought to doubly bless the boys and parents.
Delivering on Strategy
It has been exciting to see 34 new enrolments joining Mosman Prep since the commencement of the 2023 school year.
We welcome all those new boys and their families to our community.
Also exciting, has been the outworking of our Strategic Initiatives, and their subsequent increase in learning opportunities for our boys.
2023 has been an impressive year on our journey as a consistently exceptional primary school, igniting a love of learning and life in our boys, as we prepare them for their future.
With Christian faith as our foundation, we have aimed to develop and strengthen:
- positive relationships
- honourable character
- pursuit of excellence
- commitment to contribute to the lives of others
A Snapshot of Improvement Areas
Student Leadership has been strengthened this year under the guidance of Serena Hannon, with the inclusion of Lunchtime clubs, led by Year 6 boys, and structured leadership opportunities for all Year 6 boys.
Amongst other highly successful events, our Mother’s and Father’s Day celebrations were held as full school events for the first time. Thank you to all parents involved in organising and supporting our important community connection opportunities.
Our inaugural full school Creative Arts Celebration was a huge success. I would like at this point to acknowledge the impressive leadership Juliana Zatz has displayed in her first year as Director of Creative Arts.
Extra-curricular programs have been expanded impressively, such as:
- Our partnership with Queenwood, including the first ever combined athletics carnival.
- Impressive development of our Aboriginal Education program - led by Ellie Mackay.
- Powerful engagement with sustainability initiatives - spearheaded by Brendan Frost.
Teaching and Learning at Mosman Prep, led superbly by Alex Fentoullis is cutting edge, focusing on foundational and future proofing skills and dispositions, and evidence based ‘data informed’ practice. Tim Hudson has done an excellent job supporting Alex as our Data Coordinator.
Property Improvements
It was encouraging to have a past Old Boy, Council Chair, and now Prep grandfather comment at one of our events that the School precinct presented superbly.
During the early part of Term 1 2024, we will commence the refurbishment and refreshment of learning spaces, with the first of our new furniture arriving.
Other Property Projects progressing well in the design and compliance stages include:
- Redevelopment of the Basketball Court
- The Creative Arts Music Centre
- Terrey Hills Aboriginal Yarning Circle
- and Solar Panels on the Central Learning Space
2024 will be an important year of fundraising for these exciting projects, and we would greatly value your support and encouragement.
Graduate Attributes
It is our goal that on Graduating from Mosman Prep at the end of Year 6, each boy will be:
Compassionate - Principled - Globally Aware - Adaptable - Relational - Collaborative - Curious - Autonomous - Prepared and Innovative.
We are committed to providing an exceptional education for boys, empowering them to thrive.
I won’t say goodbye to our Year 6 boys and those families finishing up at Prep.
Rather, we look forward to seeing you continuing on as lifetime members of the Mosman Prep family. You are always welcome to visit!
In closing, the Staff and Council are thankful for the support of our community during 2023 and excited about the opportunities 2024 holds for Mosman Prep.
We wish you a very Merry Christmas and New Year. Stay safe and enjoy special time with your family and friends over the holiday period.
We look forward to the exciting journey ahead in 2024!
Peter Grimes | Headmaster
