Gater Gazette
Mountain Gate
Primary School
Adele Avenue
Ferntree Gully 3156
Ph: 9758 2811
www.mountaingateps.vic.
edu.au
DATES TO REMEMBER
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Tuesday 12 May
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Friday 17 April

Footsteps Program starts – (F & Grade 1)
Wednesday 22
nd
April

GATEWays

School Council
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Thursday 23 April

GATEWays

Grade 6 Advanced Presentation Skills
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Wednesday 29 April

Nick Wakeling to visit Grade 5 students
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Thursday 30 April

School Photos
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Friday 1 May

School Cross Country
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Monday 4 May

Beyond Blue/Kids Matter – Grades 3 & 4
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Tuesday 5 May

Year 2 Gymnastics
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Wednesday 6 May

Mothers’ Day Stall
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Thursday 7 May

District Athletics

NAPLAN
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Wednesday 13 May

NAPLAN
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Thursday 14 May

NAPLAN
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Monday 18 May

Education Week – Open Night 6.00pm – 7.00pm
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Wednesday 20 May

School Council
Friday 22

nd
May
District Cross Country
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Wednesday 27 May

RACV incursion – Foundation
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Thursday 28 May

Cosmodome Science Incursion – Grade 5
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Wednesday 3 June

NSW Science Competition
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Friday 5 June

Report Writing Curriculum Day
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Monday 8 June

Queen’s Birthday Public Holiday
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Tuesday 9 June

Hands on Science – Grade 5 & 6
16th April 2015
-5FROM THE PRINCIPAL’S DESK
WELCOME BACK
Welcome back to Term 2. Judging by the smiling faces and animated chatter at Assembly on Monday, the children and
adults seamed very pleased that school was back.
SENTRAL IS COMING
We are in the final stages of set up for our new school and student management system. I am excited by the options it
offers us and I know that once the system is underway (and you are used to it) you will be as well.
The first three modules we will start with will be
1. Attendance – which will provide more comprehensive and accurate records and will be done electronically by
class teachers and provide the office with instant information.
2. Communication – Sentral will allow us to send SMS messages to your mobile phone. This will be especially
handy when the buses are late or sport is cancelled! We will also be able to email the newsletter or other
information in a much more efficient manner than at present.
3. Assessment and Reporting – The new report format will provide more information and be user friendly.
By early next year we hope to have the parent portal operating which will enhance communication.
SCHOOL INFORMATION
How do I find out about what is happening at MGPS?
The Gater Gazette newsletter is produced fortnightly and either emailed, on our webpage and available in hard copy at
the office. It always contains a current calendar of events, news about daily activities and changes happening around the
school as well as reports from PTFA, Sport and Out of School Hours.
We also have an official Facebook page where comments and questions can be answered, and the school website.
Of course the most reliable and direct method is to ask your teacher or contact our wonderful office ladies who are only
too happy to answer your questions straight away or find out for you.
Information that is specifically applicable to your child’s class will always come home in a note so keep checking those
bags!
DOGS AT SCHOOL
I know you all love your pet dog but unfortunately not everyone does! We have many children and toddlers in the school
grounds who are frightened by dogs. Please help us by waiting outside the school fence with your dog.
CONGRATULATIONS
Congratulations to Miss Bourke and Miss Blyth who completed the 100k Oxfam Trail last weekend. What an endurance
test and fabulous effort with money raised going towards needy children in Australia and overseas. Hopefully their feet
are recovering!
SCHOOL GROUNDS
Shortly we will be installing the much awaited turf court and junior basketball hoop next to the junior playground. We are
able to do this due to the fabulous fundraising from our PTFA so thank you parents.
Another busy term is underway.
Go Gaters
CHERYL SAMPSON
PTFA NEWS
NEW SMOKING BANS
Mothers’ Day stall
Our Mothers’ Day stall will be held on Wednesday 6
May in the hall.
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We will need helpers on the day and a tear off slip is
included in this newsletter.
Smoking is to be banned at learning environments
and certain building entrances -
Entertainment Books
From 13 April 2015, smoking will be banned:
We are once again selling the Entertainment Books for
$65.00. We have hard copies available or you can
purchase the phone App.

Biggest Morning Tea

This year we want to hold a Biggest Morning Tea for our
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parents. It will be held on Friday 29 May. Further
details to follow.
Trivia Night
This year our theme will be Christmas in July. Tickets
will be $15.00 per person so think about booking a table
soon.
Social Night
We will be organising a social night for our parents.
Further details to follow.
within the grounds of, and at and within four
metres of an entrance to, all Victorian childcare
centres, kindergartens (or preschools) and
primary and secondary schools
at and within four metres of an entrance to
children’s indoor play centres and Victoria public
premises. Victoria public premises are all public
hospitals and registered community health
centres and certain Victorian Government
buildings.
MATHEMATICS AND SCIENCE COMPETITIONS
Once again the Mathematics and Science Competitions
will be voluntary. If you would like your child in Grades 3
to 6 to participate, you will need to complete the tear off
slip in this newsletter and return to Mrs Savage for the
Mathematics Competition and to Mrs Gibbs for the
Science Competition.
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Bakers Delight Mountain Gate
Don't forget to mention Mountain Gate Primary School
when you make any purchase at Bakers Delight
Mountain Gate. 5% of every purchase is donated back
to the school.
The Science Competition will be on Wednesday 3
June and the Mathematics Competition will be held on
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Tuesday 11 August. The cost for each competition will
be $8.80. Payment is strictly CASH ONLY. The children
will be supervised during the competition.
LINDA SAVAGE AND JAN GIBBS
WRITING COMPETITION
This year we are also inviting Grade 3-6 students to
participate in the Writing Competition. The Writing
competition is more expensive as it requires a more
detailed marking program. The cost is $18.70 CASH
ONLY. The tear off slip for the Writing Competition is to
be given to Mrs Sykes. Please see Mrs Sykes if you
have any questions regarding this competition or visit
the website, www.eaa.unsw.edu.au. The Writing
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competition is to be held on Monday 15 June.
LYNNE SYKES
PTFA
For parents and students who wish to participate in
these competitions, a range of
practice questions is available on
the EAA website. Go to
www.eaa.unsw.edu.au and follow
the link to Practice Online.
The closing date for entry to all
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competitions is 30 April, 2015.
The Grand Prize
A family trip for up to two adults and two
kids to California’s Disneyland,
including:
• Return flights to LA and airport
transfers
• 5 nights at a Disneyland hotel
• 3 day pass to Disneyland
• Enjoy Space Mountain,
rollercoasters and
hundreds of rides
• Meet Mickey Mouse and other
Disney characters
Save and win a trip to
Disneyland!
This year, School Banking is taking you
on a mission to Planet Savings. There
are eight new awesome rewards to
choose from, plus we’re introducing a
new Grand Prize competition where you
could win a family trip to Disneyland.
How to enter
All you need to do is simply make 25 or
more School Banking deposits during
2015 and you’ll automatically
go into the Grand Prize competition.
Find out more at
commbank.com.au/schoolbanking •
AUD$2,000 spending money

SCHOOL PHOTO DAY

SCHOOLPIX will be visiting us on Thursday 30th April, 2015

PHOTO DAY TIPS:

Dress:
Clean and tidy as per school uniform guidelines
Hair:
Neat and swept off face

Orders:

Complete your order envelope and return with payment to
school
Pre-orders:
To preorder online, take your personal Order and ID Number s
found on your order form and go to www.schoolpix.com.au.
Orders can be placed online up to 3 working days after
photography. You do not need to return the order form if you
order online.


PO Box 5222, Hallam VIC 3803
Ph: 1300 766 055
Email: [email protected]

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Please complete the slip below and return with your cash payment before 30 April, 2015
MATHEMATICS, SCIENCE and WRITING COMPETITIONS



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My child will be participating in the Science Competition on Wednesday 3 June and I enclose $8.80 cash to
cover the cost of this competition
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My child will be participating in the Mathematics Competition on Tuesday 11 August and I enclose $8.80
cash to cover the cost of this competition
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My child will be participating in the Writing Competition on Monday 15 June and I enclose $18.70 cash to
cover the cost of this competition
TOTAL CASH ENCLOSED: _______________________
CHILD'S NAME:
GRADE:
PARENT NAME/S:
PHONE:

MOTHERS’ DAY STALL 2015
 I would love to assist with the Mothers’ Day Stall on Wednesday 6th May.
CHILD'S NAME:
GRADE:
PARENT NAME:
PHONE:
SIGNED:
DATE:
/
/
Mountain Gate Primary School
OSHC Times are:
OSHC Phone:
OSHC phone: 9758-0531
BSC - 7.00am – 8.45am Monday – Friday
ASC – 3.30pm – 6.00pm Monday – Friday
9758-0531 Call anytime and leave a message
How to get started before using our programs register online for an account. Registering is quick
and easy. Visit our website to begin www.campaustralia.com.au
Once registered you can make bookings and cancellations, view your statements and manage your
details anytime of the day online.
Save on Care You can save 50% or more on Before and After School Care fees with the non-means
tested Child Care Rebate. Almost all families are eligible. To find out more call our Customer Service
Team on 1300 105 343 Monday to Friday.
Program Costs
Out of Pocket
Opening Hours
Before Care
$7.14 - $10.11
7.00am – 8.45am
After Care
$9.37 - $13.61
3.30pm – 6.00pm
To find out more call our Customer Service Team on 1300 105 343 Monday to Friday
Emergency and Same Day Bookings
To ensure we have the correct staff:children ratio of 1:15 could you please book your child/children in prior to the day of
care. If this isn’t possible please contact Franca at BSC prior to 8.45am on the day of care. If you need to book care
after this time please contact Camp Australia Head Office who will know the staff ratio for the session you require and
organise an assistant for the session. The Department of Education (DEECD) has very strict guidelines on staff:
children ratio. Also please leave a message on our answering machine so we are aware you child/children will be
attending and chase them up if they forget to attend.
Non Attendance of child/children booked for the session
Please leave a message on our answering machine if your child/children won’t be attending as we require under our
Duty of Care to account for all children booked in.
Permanent and Casual (Not same day bookings)
All other bookings via Camp Australia
Our answering machine is on 24/7 no matter what day or time so you can leave us a message.
STAR OF THE WEEK
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Week Ending 20 March 2015
GRADE FB
Hudson McGowan
GRADE 3S
Hugo O’Brien
GRADE FH
Gracie Hickson
GRADE 4D
Kane Spencer
GRADE FV
Arjun Palli
GRADE 4H
Luke Hearn
GRADE 1B
Willow Glidden
GRADE 5H
Emma Mace
GRADE 1D
Mikayla Foster
GRADE 5S
Lucinda Cooke-Balde
GRADE 2M
Zac Tibaldo
GRADE 6G
Pream Hanthaweekoon
GRADE 2Y
Lucinda Short
GRADE 6W
Lyn-Marie Spencer
GRADE 3H
Ava Gerrard
Library Award
Grade 5H
STAR OF THE WEEK
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Week Ending 27 March 2015
GRADE FB
Abbey Veal
GRADE 3S
Matthew Pile
GRADE FH
Jesse Tibaldo
GRADE 4D
Amy Haesler
GRADE FV
Daniel Robertson
GRADE 4H
Parua Martin
GRADE 1B
Will Pile
GRADE 5H
Corey Burridge
GRADE 1D
Ella O’Shea
GRADE 5S
Blake Brammall
GRADE 2M
Gemma Lister
GRADE 6G
Jamie Campbell
GRADE 2Y
Hayden Bence
GRADE 6W
Chelsea Lawrenson
GRADE 3H
Indy Atkins
Library Award
Grade 1D