Mount View High School

High expectations and opportunities for all to thrive.

Telephone02 4990 2566

Emailmountview-h.school@det.nsw.edu.au

The Principal's View

Mid Term 3 Newsletter

This year we have been exploring a few different options with newsletters and frequency of communication. We are basing decisions on statistics we can now gather since we moved to linked stories on our website. This edition represents approximately half of our Faculties and Year Advisers making a report, with the other half making a report at the end of term. We hope this edition provides more digestible news.

 

Staffing

Leanne Way has been made a permanent member of our SAS staff after an extended period relieving for Nat Young who was recently successful in merit selection for a Administrative Manager position at Ellalong Public School. We are thrilled for both Leanne and Nat.

Karen Blandon will finish up at Mount View at the end of term as she looks forward to a new chapter in her distinguished teaching career. Karen’s contribution to the students of Mount View High School is nothing short of extraordinary. Throughout her time at Mount View, Karen has proven herself as a quality classroom practitioner, has led our students in leadership development and driven opportunities through programs such as LEO’s. Karen will be greatly missed by students and staff alike. 

Long term temporary staff member Drew Daniels will also wind up after securing a permanent position at West Wallsend High School. Drew has been an invaluable member of staff, filling a range of different positions in his time with us at Mount View. Drew has provided ongoing and expert assistance to our HSC music students along with his professional guitar accompaniment during student performances.

Both Deputy Principals have been scheduled a weekly day release this term to engage in school planning. Julie Myers will be covering Rob Jovanovski in the 8, 10, 12 DP seat on Wednesdays with Bec Knipe covering Julie as HT Wellbeing on the same day. On Fridays, Scott Hamilton will relieve in Larayne Jeffery’s chair for years 7, 9 & 11 with Kristin Bailey covering Scott in the HT HSIE role.

 

COVID update

Last week, Principals were provided with NSW Health's COVID-19 advice that prescribed changes to how we operate in schools and made requests for immediate implementation. The following represents the critical aspects of what has been provided:

Students who present at MVHS with flu like symptoms

In accordance with advice from NSW Health, parents and carers are reminded NOT to send children to school if they are unwell, even if they have the mildest flu-like symptoms. At Mount View High School, students who present as unwell or have flu-like symptoms will be sent to the sick bay. Their parents and carers will be contacted and requested to collect their child and take them home.

As recommended by NSW Health, we will be encouraging anyone who is unwell or has even mild flu-like symptoms, to make arrangements to be tested through their local medical practitioner or one of the COVID-19 clinics. Students with flu-like symptoms will need to provide a copy of a negative COVID-19 test result before being permitted to return to school.

Parents should not enter the Mount View site unless directed

Parents/carers and other non-essential visitors are not allowed on the school site. When collecting students from school, parents are requested to park at the basin car park and notify the school by phone of their arrival. School staff will escort the student across to the basin car park and to their parent / carer.

2021 strategic planning - 2020 still going strong

We have started our situational analysis which will inform the new Strategic Improvement Plan which, in turn, will be used to guide us from 2021 to 2024. In the meantime we have been busy ticking off a range of strategic goals this year. This term we welcome a new TAS timber store, TAS staffroom and Art alfresco extension.

Our new senior leaders are also busy working on a playground development that we hope will be ready for 2021.

Education Week

Earlier this term, Mount View High School recognised the contribution from some of our outstanding staff and community members as part of education week. The Education Week 2020 theme, 'Learning together', reflects an incredible year for NSW public school students, staff and parents, and the partnerships that have been strengthened in response. The awards and recipients were: Outstanding Contribution by a Community Member: Chris Watson; School Achievement Award: Motorbike program as managed by Robert Jovanovski; Excellence in Teaching: Lisa Hunt and Brian Means; Excellence in Student Achievement: Fei Fei Lui and Chelsea Webb; Outstanding Contribution by a Non-Teaching Staff Member: Nicole Haley and Em Thomson;  Excellence in School Leadership: Larayne Jeffery.

SAS recognition week

Last week we celebrated SAS recognition week by acknowledging the contribution made to Mount View High School by our wonderful SAM, SAOs, SSO, SLSOs, TSO, GAs, and Farm Assistant. A special breakfast was held for SAS on Friday morning to recognise the outstanding contribution they provide.