Dear Minimbah Parents,

Christmas in July Thanks

Massive thanks to all those who were able to join us for our inaugural Christmas in July Parent Social. Postponed three times last year, we were very pleased to be able to come together to enjoy good food, great music and even better company! Thanks to everyone for so generously supporting our fundraising efforts. Money raised on Friday evening will help support the PFG in their planning and set-up for next year’s ‘Festival du Minimbah’ (Minimbah Fair). Special thanks to Jo and Jesse Ressom from The Laneway Group, Linda and Rollo Crittenden from Crittenden Wines, Kathryn Dorward, Jo Geddes, Adam Liddiard and Laura Maasburg for your wonderful support of the evening. We look forward to doing it all again in 2023.

We are very keen to receive any feedback on the evening but also suggestions for other parent social events you may like to see on the Minimbah calendar. I invite you to respond to the survey available via this link.

Parent Information Evening (ECC to Year 6) - Wednesday 3 August

I look forward to welcoming you to our Parent Information Evening on Wednesday 3 August from 7.00 pm. The evening will provide an opportunity for class and specialist teachers to outline our Semester 2 Programs.

• Staff will share our approaches to the teaching of reading and maths.
• We will outline upcoming events and activities including our whole school production, Disney's The Little Mermaid.
• There will be updates on our outdoor camps and education program.
• Get the latest information about our Nature Pedagogy Programs in ECC to Year 2, the Kitchen Garden Explore Program in Years 3 and 4, and the Activities Program in Years 5 and 6.

Register now

Parent/Teacher and PSG Thanks

Our mid-year cycle of Parent/Teacher Interviews and PSGs has concluded. I wish to express my thanks to you all for your participation in the process. The interviews, along with the end-of-semester report, form the foundation for goal-setting and aspirations for student learning for this coming semester.

We see the partnership between home and school as paramount. Please do not hesitate to reach out to class or specialist teachers or me if you ever need to clarify your child’s progress outside of our regular parent/teacher check-ins.

Aerosports Competition

Filled with excitement, the aerobics students headed off to Diamond Creek to participate in Thursday’s Aerosports competition. For many students, this was their first opportunity to compete in an aerobics event. Students from a wide variety of Victorian schools attended.

Since May, the students have attended regular rehearsals with coach Billee Ruckford as they learned routines and prepared for this big day.

Performing superbly on the day the following results were achieved:

Mini Group Level 2 including Amelia, Annabelle, Imogen, Della, Ayla and Sasica achieved 3rd place performing, 'Blame it on the Boogie’.

Mini Group Level 1 including the whole aerobics team. This included Harper, Lara, Billie, Isla, Charlotte, Amelia, Annabelle, Imogen, Della, Ayla, Sasica, Harper, Mae, Tilly, Eve, Lily and Ruby. They performed, ‘We Found Love’ and scored 1st place in this event.

The final event involved students from Year 5 & 6. Harper, Mae, Tilly, Eve, Lily and Ruby performed ‘Me’ in the Junior Group, Level 3 section. This performance resulted in 6^th place. These students will be heading off the National competition at the end of this term.

Congratulations to all participants and Billee on a remarkable first season of aerobics! Thank you to all those who have supported the team, assisted with costumes, make-up and cheered for the students on the day.

We wish the Year 5 & 6 team all the best for the Nationals.

Homeless Youth Casual Clothes Day - Friday 5 August

Last Thursday year 9 Senior Campus students Milly, Lilly and Charlie presented at our assembly. As part of their Middle Years Program, they have been looking at social issues facing our local community. Their focus turned to homeless youth here on the peninsula. They have asked Minimbah students to support their fundraising efforts by wearing casual clothes and donating a gold coin (or more) on Friday 5 August. Money raised will be donated to Fusion Mornington Peninsula. Fusion is a youth and community organisation committed to empowering young people, and raising the profile of the issue of youth homelessness on the peninsula.

Pupil Free Day – Monday 8 August

Just a reminder that Monday 8 August will be a pupil-free day to enable all staff across the entire school to update their training in the new Child Safe Standards, along with other critical compliance requirements.

Year 5 Sovereign Hill Study Tour – Wednesday 10 August to Friday 12 August

We wish our Year 5 students all the best as they travel to Ballarat to turn back the clock and experience what it was like attending school and living on the Victorian Gold Fields of 1856. I will accompany the students so will be unavailable across these dates. Please reach out to my Deputy, Kate Bird, should you need to.

ROD DAVIES
Head of Minimbah Campus