An Exceptional Term at Mosman Prep
What a diverse and exceptional term we have experienced!
It commenced with student, parent and staff representation at the Mosman ANZAC Day Dawn Service during the holidays, followed by an ANZAC Ceremony for all our boys and staff at school, with Captain Ian Campbell of the Royal Australian Navy (current Prep father) delivering a stirring address.
Continuing the theme of remembrance, later in the term our Year 6 Captains attended the Defence of Sydney Commemorative Service at North Head. We also gathered for National Reconciliation Week, where a guest speaker helped us reflect on our shared histories, cultures, and achievements, and to explore how each of us could contribute to reconciliation in Australia.
Our Terrey Hills visits saw, amongst other things, boys playing aboriginal games, gardening, cooking for themselves and for charities, doing science, art, and sport. We had boys going on excursions to the city, the Kimbriki Recycling Centre, and local nursing homes. Year 5 boys visited local preschools to read to the children, and local preschools enjoyed visiting Mosman Prep for a ‘big school’ experience. Some students from our Challenge Program attended, and were inspired at, the Sydney Writers’ Festival.
Various year groups enjoyed visiting authors. This included Year 5 hearing from Deborah Abela (author of ‘The Kindness Project’) at the Kindness Convention, which was hosted by Mosman Prep and Queenwood. The boys and other students from independent schools also enjoyed designing a kindness project of their own.
Our special connection with Queenwood continued with the Year 5 Leadership Day, our very popular combined Senior Primary Athletics Carnival, Afterschool Care, year group playdates, and learning exhibitions.
Beyond our normal Saturday sporting engagement, we held a very successful Junior Primary Athletics Carnival, some boys elected to participate in the NSTA Primary School Challenge, while others participated in the Balmoral Burn and Mini-Mos community fun runs.
Years 3-6 boys were involved in the Bear Pit Public Speaking Competition, with students from across the School engaged in the Sustainability Upcycling Competition.
We experienced outstanding results in external competitions, including Inter-school Debating and Chess, and a Computational Thinking Challenge, while also receiving both a Gold and a Silver award in the ‘Hello Mandarin Speaking Competition’.
Our mothers were celebrated and the community strengthened with a very special Mother’s Day Breakfast, where all boys sang to guests, shared learning in their classroom, and presented gifts and messages. The recent Barn Dance was a vibrant time of community connection, which included farm animals, face painting, woodfired pizza, crepes and ice-cream. Father and Son Camps allowed our dads and boys to develop stronger bonds.
Both in and outside the classroom, our boys enjoy such a rich and powerful educational offering, made possible by an outstanding partnership between our exceptional staff and engaged, supportive parents.
Next term we are excited to have 15 new boys and their families join Mosman Prep. I know you will make them feel welcome.
I wish you a very special and safe school vacation period with family and friends.
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30
Peter Grimes | Headmaster