About Us

Principal’s Message

Welcome to Mulgrave Primary School.

Established in 1879, Mulgrave Primary School honours a proud history and tradition and blends this with 21st century teaching and learning. Our school boasts a strong sense of community, where teachers, parents and students work together to ensure that we offer the best teaching and learning opportunities for all students. Our expert teachers and quality programs seek to identify the individual learning needs of every child and teach accordingly, so that all students are provided with the opportunity to reach their potential.  We offer a broad range of timetabled Specialist programs including STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics), Physical Education, Visual and Performing Arts and Spanish. The school is very well resourced with ample computer technology, spacious grounds and curriculum resources to meet the needs of all of our students through a collaborative approach.

Our school offers a warm learning environment where every student is cared for. Our aim is to engage every child at their point of need, create a happy and safe environment where students want to be at school, and to work with parents to deliver excellent academic outcomes each and every year. Our school vision, created by students, staff and parents, is:

To nurture a collaborative environment that enhances knowledge and supports social, emotional and academic growth; maximising our potential to become effective members of our learning community.

In order to aid individual student achievement, our goal is to maintain the lowest average class sizes possible. This ensures that our teachers can provide as much individual attention to your child as possible. It is my hope that any visitor to Mulgrave Primary School can see this vision coming to fruition through our actions and through the development of all of our students.

Mulgrave continues to be a high performing school as a result of the dedication and care of our staff, quality programs for all students and a strong and supportive parent community. As such, MPS is now at full capacity (450) and is required to restrict our enrolments in accordance with Department of Education and Training guidelines. Please refer to our enrolments page for further information.

I welcome families to join me on a school tour to experience MPS for themselves. To book, please contact our school office.

 Mr. Charles Spicer

Principal

Telephone – 03 9795 2477

 

 

Mulgrave Primary School

Mulgrave Primary School is set on beautiful, spacious grounds with lots of room for children to play and interact with each other. Facilities at the schools are always well maintained, with consistent upgrades over the past few years. In 2020 we opened a new competition sized stadium and performing arts space and with funding confirmed for a future Library and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) centre, we look forward to seeing the planning and construction of this project start soon.

A major focus at the school is ensuring that your child enjoys school, feels connected and builds academic and social resilience during their time with us. We aim to teach to the individual point of need for every child, taking the time to understand their needs and building a strong relationship with both the child and their family.

Each classroom is equipped with modern technology that provides teachers with powerful tools to both inspire and motivate students, so that they can be engaged in their learning. We also have a generous number of computers in each classroom, as well as having portable devices such as laptops and iPads for student use. We believe that it is our responsibility to provide these resources for students in our care, so there is no need for a bring your own device program. We supply enough for everyone.

Enrolments at the school are increasing each year. In 2024 we have 20 grades and a student enrolment of just over 450, including with three full grades across most year levels, leading to an average class size of 23. All children are involved in sporting programs and Preps attend PMP sessions (Perceptual Motor Program) to assist them in developing strong gross motor skills, good balance etc. The school offers a swimming program, Year 3-6 camp program, student leadership programs, extra curricula activities including lunchtime activities and the opportunity to learn a second language – Spanish.

5At Mulgrave Primary School, we have a strong focus on Literacy and Numeracy to ensure that all children have the fundamentals of learning established. We focus on catering for individual needs and work closely with our families on the learning journey.

Transition

We pride ourselves in providing a quality transition program that ensures children are well-prepared and confident when they embark on their first experience of schooling. The Kinder to Prep program takes place in Term 4 each year and in addition, we provide families clarity right through to Year 6 via a three week program towards the end of Term 4 where students meet their new teacher and classmates and have a chance to settle in prior to the end of the school year, relieving the anxiety of not knowing what the new class will be like the following year. Please visit the enrolment section of our website for more information about our 2025 Transition Program.

If you would like more information about Mulgrave Primary School or you would like to arrange a tour, please contact the school at any time. Group tours are available; please contact the office for all bookings.

Other appointment times can be arranged by consultation with our Principal, Charles Spicer.

 

Staff

PRINCIPAL

Mr Charles Spicer

ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL

Mr Stuart Hattwell

ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL

Mrs Nicola Weerakoon

BUSINESS MANAGER

Mrs Suzy Shaw

OFFICE ADMINISTRATION

Mrs Viki Ali

Mrs Anna Long

EDUCATION SUPPORT

Miss Grace Gardiner

Mrs Vicki Goldsworthy

Mrs Sindhu Havanur

Mrs You Meng Hooi

Mrs Jacquelyn Nathan

Mrs Tien Sumarni

Mrs Marina Vujmilovic

 

 

Foundation (Prep)

PB – Ms Lauri Brogden

PK – Mr Jay Khoo

PN – Mrs Erica Newnham

Grade 1

1B – Ms Bernice Li

1M – Mrs Sarah Murray

1T – Miss Bridgette Thorne

Grade 2

2E – Ms Marika Evans

2O – Mrs Michelle Ohia

2P – Ms Beth Pope

Grade 3

3H – Ms Emma Harrison

3HD – Mrs Kate Hattwell

           & Mrs Evana Durack

 

Grade 4

4B – Mrs Jo Bon

4H – Ms Amanda Hickleton

4L – Mr Caleb Lazar

Grade 5

5G – Mr Nathan Giles

5M – Mrs Lenore Matthews

5MP – Mrs Nicole MacPhie

Grade 6

6CH – Mrs Hayley Cutting 

            & Mrs Lauren Hay

6G – Mr Jordan Geer

6O – Mr Tim O’Neill

 

 

 

MUSIC 

Mrs Sally Bush

STEM

Mr Stuart McIlwraith

LOTE

Señora Pilar Caivano

ART

Mrs Daniela Pejic

LIBRARY

Mrs Marina Vujmilovic

P.E. – SPORT

Mr John Stokes

TUTOR

Mrs Tracy Turner

Miss Lisa Laski

 

 

 

Facilities

Mulgrave Primary School offers very spacious grounds for our students to enjoy. The school provides a large open play space for field games including a football field, two soccer pitches and two hardcourts that can cater for basketball, netball, tennis and other sports. In addition, Mulgrave Primary School has recently completed the construction of a new competition sized netball and basketball stadium that will also cater for futsal. The stadium includes a performing arts space, canteen and new toilets and change rooms. This adds to our existing facilities that include a library, art room, STEM centre and multi-purpose hall. All of our classrooms are equipped with air conditioning, large screen televisions and we provide all the technology that students will ever need including notebooks, desktops and iPads, so there is no need to bring your own device!

The school also provides a range of play equipment, with two brand new playgrounds recently constructed including a sensory play space. In addition, the school running track, which takes the unique form of the map of Australia’s mainland, has several fitness components dotting it’s 500m path. Of course, this flows through to our Australiana theme, where our classrooms enjoy “outback styled” verandas. You can even find Ned Kelly and Uluru if you know where to look. The running track is even sign posted, so you can check out the capital cities along the way. We haven’t forgotten Tassie either, which is represented by a towering gum, with Hobart sign posted.

Recent additions to the school is the covered outdoor learning area for our senior students, that provide a safe indoor – outdoor learning environment. We also have a community garden that is run by the students, with the produce used for all manner of learning tasks. Our central courtyard is a great meeting place before and after school, the tennis rebound wall is always popular and we also have a shaded picnic style area for students to enjoy some quiet time. At MPS we take pride in maintaining our facilities so that our students have the cleanest and safest spaces possible and we are constantly looking at ways to improve.

 

Student Wellbeing

Student Wellbeing is a most important aspect of a child’s time at school. The school caters for the wellbeing of students in a wide variety of ways.

It is widely recognised that effective and sustainable interventions in schools occur when a whole-school approach is implemented. Initiatives we incorporate into our curriculum include eSmart, cybersafety, lunchtime clubs, camps and excursions, positive learning environments, excellent recreational spaces, the buddy system, student leadership program, public speaking opportunities, recognised welfare and discipline procedures including Restorative Practice and many extra-curricular activities.

In 2016, the school was awarded a grant to enable us to have a Student Wellbeing Officer. This will provide social, emotional and pastoral care for our students and families, particularly those who at times, require specific assistance.

A Message from Ali – The Student Wellbeing Officer

Hi, I’m Ali Hardaker,  I’m the school’s Student Wellbeing Officer here at Mulgrave Primary School, providing social, emotional and pastoral care for our students and families, particularly those who at times, require specific assistance.  I will be putting relevant and interesting articles into the newsletter each issue to hopefully inspire and encourage you on your parenting journey.  There will be  web links added for you to tap into for further resources and information in the schools fortnightly newsletters.  These can be accessed through the communication applications and also on the News and Events section on this website. https://mulgraveps.vic.edu.au/news-and-events/

I’m here at the school on Thursdays and Fridays. I will look forward to connecting with you via the articles and in person throughout the year.

Positive School Climate

A consistent, whole-school approach to health and wellbeing is integral to positive student engagement, learning, growth, relationships, and achievement. At MPS, it is a priority to create a positive school climate that best supports our students. We do this by focusing on four key areas:

  • Empowering students and building school pride
  • Setting expectations and promoting inclusion
  • Health and wellbeing
  • Intellectual engagement and self-awareness

We have several programs at MPS that help students to feel connected and engaged in their learning.   We have developed a School-Wide Positive Behaviour Model and promote student voice through a range of programs such as our Junior School Council program and Student Leadership program.

 

Through creating a positive school climate, we aim to support students’ physical and emotional needs and develop their awareness, empathy, independence, relationship skills, and growth.

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