Week 4, Term 4 | 7 November 2025

“AI is probably the most important thing humanity has ever worked on. I think of it as something more profound than electricity or fire.” Sundar Pichai, CEO of Google

Artificial Intelligence has incredible potential in education, with benefits including increased personalised learning, instant targeted feedback, and more opportunity for ‘one to one’ mentoring in the classroom. However, AI use also brings significant risks.

Considering these risks, it is essential that schools have a robust Artificial Intelligence Policy. Research is clear that such a policy leads to substantial increases in safe and effective use of this powerful technological resource.

At Mosman Prep we have drawn on cutting edge research and national education frameworks to create our AI Policy.

What Our Policy Means for our Community

For Students:

• Only approved AI tools may be used, under teacher supervision.
• Students will learn how to use AI safely and ethically as part of their digital-citizenship lessons.
• AI help must always be acknowledged in schoolwork.
• Cheating or disguising AI use is not allowed.
• Students must never upload photos, videos, or personal information into public AI tools.
• Creating deepfakes or voice-cloned content is strictly banned.
• The same consequences apply for AI misuse as for any other technology misuse.
• A Student AI Agreement will form part of the 2026 Student ICT & AI Agreements, digitally signed by both students and parents.

For Parents:

• Parents will be kept informed about how AI is used in class and across the School.
• Parents can ask questions or share feedback through upcoming Q&A sessions and the Parent App.

Governance and Safety:

• Only tools that meet the School’s privacy and safety standards may be used.
• Every tool is checked to ensure it protects student information and is appropriate for a school environment.
• Any issues or concerns are reviewed by the School’s AI Committee.
• The AI Committee reviews and updates the policy each year to stay aligned with national frameworks and emerging regulations.

Artificial Intelligence is poised to be a foundational skill for our boys’ future careers.

By working together, guided by our AI policy and framework, this powerful technology can be used more safely, ethically, responsibly, and effectively across the School.

Peter Grimes | Headmaster
Matt Blackband | Director of Technology

Join us for a fun and festive evening of creativity and community at our gingerbread house making night on Friday 21 November.

This special event is open to all women in our community, whether you attend Mosman Village Church or not. Come and join us for an evening filled with laughter, joy and a touch of sugary delight!

Register via the link or QR code below:

Note: Ticket price ($40) includes everything you need to construct and decorate your gingerbread house

Mosman Village Church

In Week 2, our Year 4 boys demonstrated the School motto, Non Nobis Solum (Not for Ourselves Alone), by dedicating their time at Terrey Hills to prepare food for those in need. Partnering with the charity One Meal, the students successfully cooked a heartwarming batch of pasta with meatballs, creating balanced and delicious meals.

The process was hands-on and educational:

• The boys started by meticulously chopping and blending the mince and vegetables.
• They then hand-rolled the mixture into meatballs before frying them.
• Finally, the meatballs were added to pasta and a vegetable mix, before the entire dish was portioned up into individual servings.

This service is a crucial part of our commitment to community, reinforcing the message that people should never be left out. The boys truly enjoyed the experience of making food for One Meal, embodying the spirit of kindness and giving back that is central to our School values.

Molly Demaine | Year 4 Classroom Teacher

This term, our Early Entry boys have been discovering the many cultures that make up our world and our own School community! They loved chatting with their grandparents to learn about their family heritage and marked on our world map where their ancestors came from.

On Tuesday, we celebrated with a special International Morning Tea, where families shared delicious foods from around the globe. It was wonderful to see the boys proudly sharing their learning and stories with teachers and staff from across the School. Our classroom was filled with excitement, delicious smells, and a real sense of community!

Jess Elvey | Early Entry Teacher

Our Kindergarten boys had a wonderful time in the kitchen this week! They loved following recipes, measuring ingredients, and working together to make a delicious treat. Cooking is always a favourite activity, helping the boys build teamwork, confidence, and independence while having plenty of fun.

A special highlight of the day was the debut of our brand-new aprons, generously donated by a Mosman Prep family. Thank you to Olivia Fletcher and her family's business 'Greenfield Embroidery'. The boys were so excited to wear them and looked every bit the part of little chefs! We are so thankful for this thoughtful gift, which will continue to brighten our cooking sessions for years to come.

Shannon O'Brien | Kindergarten Teacher

We are delighted to share a snapshot of the impressive artworks currently on display at school! Our students have been busy exploring the foundational elements of art, using lines, shapes, colour, and patterns to represent a variety of inspiring subject matter.

The technical skills on display are diverse, with students mastering techniques such as crayon rubbings, painting, printing, and drawing.

"I love trying to solve the problem," one of our young ASC detectives said this week as they eagerly set up our new version of Cluedo. It was a perfect reminder of how much deeper play goes than just being "fun."

That simple request to play Cluedo unlocked a treasure trove of learning opportunities!

Board games, and especially deductive ones like Cluedo, are powerful tools that naturally foster essential life skills:

1. Thinking Skills: Children use logic and deduction to eliminate suspects and weapons. They're gathering evidence and forming hypotheses—real critical thinking!
2. Social Skills: The game demands clear communication, negotiation, and gracious winning/losing, building crucial social interactions.
3. Understanding Rules & Fairness: Kids learn the importance of following rules and developing an intrinsic sense of fair play.

It's this seamless blend of play and profound learning that makes ASC such a vibrant place. Come join the fun and the learning!

The ASC Team
Leonie Westenberg / Director ASC & Vacation Care

We are thrilled to celebrate a remarkable achievement by one of our students, Terrance Zheng, who recently secured a major victory outside of school.

Last weekend, Terrance competed in the prestigious NSW Fencing State Championship in the Under 13 Novice Men's Sabre category, where he took home the Gold Medal!

This outstanding result is a testament to Terrance's dedication and commitment to his training. We are incredibly proud of his hard work and his achievement at the state level.

Please join us in congratulating him on his success!

Our Early Entry students have been dedicated to their Service Learning this year, working closely with The Link Community Pantry. They have consistently helped those less fortunate by collecting Easter Eggs, harvesting crops, and baking sweet treats.

Now, they are organising a final collection drive to create Christmas Hampers for the community!

We are asking all school families to contribute an item or two from the list below to help make a difference this holiday season.

Thank you for supporting our students and the wider community!

Jessica Elvey | Early Entry Teacher

Help us make a difference to our environment with Waste-Free Wednesdays! As of Term 4, Mosman Prep will encourage students to bring their recess and lunch to school in reusable containers with no wrappers. By doing this, we can reduce our School's waste and help keep our environment clean. Thank you for your cooperation and support.

Kath Gresson- Sustainability Coordinator

As part of our commitment to student safety and well-being, Mosman Prep adheres to the Child Safe Standards set by the Office of the Children's Guardian. To comply with these standards, all parent volunteers wishing to assist with the Canteen, Terrey Hills, or Excursions must complete the attached Volunteer Information Form.

The form requests the following details:

• Working With Children Check (WWC) number: For verification purposes only.
• Date of Birth (DOB): Required for WWC verification.

Please note:

The form includes references to relevant Mosman Prep policies, accessible on our website.

How to submit the form:

• Email address to send the completed form to volunteer@mosmanprep.nsw.edu.au

Thank you for your time and cooperation in ensuring a safe and supportive environment for all our students.

Julie Shortland | EA to the Headmaster

As part of the Physical Education program, Year 5 and 6 boys in Term 4 swapped the School hall for a sailing boat for a five week sailing course. This annual sailing program takes place at Balmoral Sailing Club with the boys having the opportunity to learn from experienced sailing instructors.

The Stage 3 boys take part in both land theory and water activities. Land theory activities include:

• Introduction to parts of the boats, rigging and de-rigging.
• Points of sail, no go zone and sail setting.
• How to visualize wind direction on land.
• Rules of the road: starboard V'S port, windward V'S leeward, power V'S sail and overtaking.
• Rope work and knots.
• Physics of how a sailboat works.

This knowledge is then progressively applied on the water in safe activities on craft that include ‘optimist’, laser ‘pico’ and hobie cat sailing boats with boys learning to steer, control speed, tacking, jibing and race.

Clothing

The boys will come to school in PE uniform and then change into their sailing clothes. Clothes for sailing will get wet and should be warm to avert wind chill. Wetsuits and rash shirts are ideal, but not compulsory.

Non-marking shoes must be worn at all times, both on the boats and on land.

• Water/sailing shoes (best option)
• Old sandshoes (next best option)
• Crocs (next best option)
• Thongs/flip flops (not an option) A broad brimmed hat and sunscreen are compulsory. Drink bottles should also be taken.

Steve Riddett | Director of Sport

Year 5 and 6 boys will participate in one of the following Surf Awareness Courses in Week 5:

Level 2/3: Year 6 (Monday 10 November at Manly Surf Life Saving Club: 9:30am to 12:30pm)

Level 1/2: Year 5 (Wednesday 12 November at Manly Surf Life Saving Club: 9:30am to 12:30pm)

Information regarding these courses has been sent to parents.

Steve Riddett | Director of Sport 

We are excited to announce a revamp of our School Sports uniform, with several new items being introduced for the 2026 school year. These changes are designed to improve functionality and update our School's athletic identity.

The new items are:

• Reversible Training Shirt: A versatile shirt that can be used for all after-school sports training sessions.
• Reversible Basketball Singlet: This new singlet offers home and away colours in one item, reducing the need for bibs/braids at training or in the event of another school having the same colours.
• New Cricket Polo: A modern and comfortable design for our cricket players.
• New School Sports Socks: These socks will feature our School colours and name, providing a consistent look for our PE/Sports uniform.

We believe these new additions will not only enhance our School spirit but also provide our students with comfortable and practical attire for their sporting pursuits. Further information to come later this term.

Steve Riddett | Director of Sport

Saturdays: On Saturdays the MCEPS Information Line will be updated between 6:30 and 7:00am. This number has the most up-to-date information the School can provide regarding matters of sport and excursions. Parents are to call this number and not the School Office. After heavy rain, Mosman Council often closes its grounds, so please check with this number for all school sport and excursion cancellations.

Weekdays: In case of inclement weather, please ring the Prep Information Line, which will be updated from 1:00pm. Ovals might be closed by Mosman Council on fine days, if the preceding days have been wet. It is therefore advised that parents should ring the School’s Information Line on training days if there has been recent rain. 

PLEASE NOTE:  if the message has not been updated, Sport is ON as scheduled.

Steve Riddett | Director of Sport

The P&F would like to invite you to a relaxed morning coffee to celebrate our incredible class parents and Prep volunteers. 

Whether you're a past, present, or future class parent, we’d love for you to join us.

It’s a great opportunity to connect with others in the Prep community in an informal and friendly setting, including meeting families across different year levels. 

Date: Friday 28 November at 8:45am (after drop off)
Location: Frenchy's Cafe, Mosman

P&F Committee

Canteen is proudly run by the P&F and depends on parent volunteers to support our dedicated paid staff in serving the boys. If you’ve volunteered before, you know firsthand how rewarding and appreciated your contribution is.

We warmly invite all parents who haven’t yet had a chance to help to sign up for a shift for this term. It’s a simple way to support the School community—and the boys love seeing familiar faces behind the counter!

As a parent volunteer, you'll work alongside canteen staff and serve the boys during busy recess periods, 10:20-11:20am. No kitchen or cooking experience required. Use this Link - Volunteer Sign Up Form to sign up for a 1-hour shift any day(s) during school term. Any questions about canteen volunteering, contact Jeff Brown @ 0400 410 737. 

As a matter of compliance, school volunteers must complete the Volunteer Form below, and have a current NSW Working with Children Check (WWCC). Send completed forms to volunteer@mosmanprep.nsw.edu.au

Jeff Brown | P&F Committee, Canteen

Mosman Prep prides itself on its service to community, guided by our motto, Non Nobis Solum – Not for Ourselves Alone. In this spirit, in 2024 in partnership with the P&F, a school community initiative called ‘Meals with Love’ was launched.

This service provides home cooked evening meals for Mosman Prep families in times of need. All meals are cooked by parent and teacher volunteers and are available for as many evenings as required. This service is anonymous, so meals cooked by volunteers will be delivered to the office for collection by the family as coordinated by the School. 

If your family has a need for this service, please contact Julie Shortland at the School Office at ea@mosmanprep.nsw.edu.au.

If you are also interested in being a volunteer and cooking the occasional meal for a family in need, please contact our new Meals with Love Coordinator, Georgina Ridhalgh at gridhalgh@hlbnsw.com.au. 

I'd like to thank Georgina for taking up the Coordinator role and also all the wonderful volunteers who have cooked meals this year. It has been a pleasure to create this service for the Mosman Prep community and have it continue.

Meals with Love Coordinator

For the schedule of school events, please refer to the online calendar, which can be found HERE.