Macedon Primary School Newsletter

Dear Parents,

Ride to School (with Mr Forrest) Day

Last Friday I had a fantastic morning on Ride To School day.  I rode in early from Woodend and saw a number of kangaroos, plenty of birds and two deer hanging out in the misty pines between Woodend and Macedon, it’s a pretty special place that we live in.  I met approximately 30 students and 10 parents for the ride back to school and we made our way up Cable Street, through the pines and into school.  Overall on the day we had 150 of our 256 students make their way to school in a sustainable and healthy way.  It was a great celebration of getting outside and being active.  I hope you and your children feel inspired to jump on your bike to school when you can.

School Review Field Work Day

Today is the second of our three day school review.  Today was the field work day where our review panel gathered evidence of the extent to which we have achieved our strategic goals.  The day consisted of classroom observations, student forums, staff interviews and a school council parent forum.  I anticipate that the evidence collected today will support us to develop strong goals that will support us to strive for continuous improvement.

House Cross Country

I want to wish all of our students all the very best for the House Cross Country event this Friday at Tony Clarke Reserve.  David Oxworth has been busy organising the event and we have our fingers crossed for some nice weather.  Students can wear their house colours and please remember to pack a hat and a drink bottle.

Heidi Winchester

Late last year I wrote about the prospect of a private councillor working in the school to support children who may need guidance to help them deal with anxiety, friendship issues, behaviour issues, grief or many other reasons. On our website, there is now a link to the information about the councillor, Heidi Winchester, who we have engaged.  The information pack contains some background on Heidi and the steps that you need to take to start your child with the service.  Please read the information in this pack and then see me if you have any questions, or need help to fill in any of the forms. It would be beneficial to meet with me so that we can complete the ‘Counselling Intake Form’ together.

If you are interested, the first step is to read the information and complete the intake and consent forms in this pack.  Please see me if you have any questions, or need help with the forms.

The next step is to take your child to their GP, paediatrician or psychiatrist to discuss the problem. The doctor can then develop a mental health treatment plan which may involve visits to a mental health professional. The doctor also needs to provide a referral letter to this professional. The mental health treatment plan allows for your child to have up to 10 sessions with the mental health professional each calendar year, with the costs covered by Medicare.

Please find the link to more information here.  Printed forms are also available at the front office.

Matt Forrest

Principal

26 March - House Cross Country - Tony Clarke Reserve - please see details below

31 March & 1 April - Year 1 and 2 MGR Camp

1 April - Last Day of Term 1 - 2:30pm dismissal

19 April -  School Curriculum Day (no students)

20 April - First Day of Term 2

23 April - District Cross country - selected students

28 April - House Athletics - Yr 3-6

14 June - Queen's Birthday public holiday

25 June - Last day of Term 2 (2:30 dismissal)

12 July - School Curriculum Day (no students)

13 July - First day of Term 3

17 September - Last day of Term 3 (2:30 dismissal)

5 October - First Day of Term 4

2 November - Melbourne Cup public holiday (no students)

17 December - Last day of year (1:30pm dismissal)

Monday - House Cross Country Notice

Wednesday - SEA (Sex Education Australia) permission note & information Yr 3 -6

Wednesday - House Athletics - Yr 3-6 to be held 28th April

All children from Foundation to Year 6 will be participating in our local cross country program to be held at Tony Clarke Reserve in Macedon, on Friday 26th March 2021. There is no cost for this event.

Children will leave school soon after 9am and walk to the Reserve, returning around 12:00 noon. F-2 classes will commence approximately 9:45-10am, with years 3-6 starting between 10:20-11am. Foundation students will run around 500 metres, Year 1/2 1km, with age 10 and under 2kms, 11 and over 3kms. As this is a local excursion we do not require further permission beyond the forms signed by parents/carers at the start of the year.

Parents/Carers are welcome to meet the students and teachers at Tony Clarke Reserve to cheer the children on, observing COVID social distancing.

Please ensure your child has a sunhat and sunscreen, a raincoat if required, and the students will be carrying their own snacks and drinks in their bags. Lunch will be eaten back at school, so lunch orders will still go ahead.

Head Lice

We have had some reported cases of headlice in the school. We ask that children with hair below shoulder length please have it tied back. Below is some further information;

What can you do?

We seek your cooperation in checking your child’s hair and in those instances where head lice or eggs are found, treating your child’s hair. Please visit www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au and search for “head lice (nits)” for advice on finding, treating and preventing head lice.

 If head lice or eggs are found on your child’s hair you need to inform:

·         the school and advise when the treatment has started;

·         parent/s or carer/s of your child’s friends so they too have the opportunity to detect and treat their children if necessary.

When can my child return to school?

Health regulations require that where a child has head lice, that child should not return to school until the day after appropriate treatment has started. Please note, this refers only to those children who have live head lice and does not refer to head lice eggs. More information about exclusion requirements can be found by searching for “school exclusion table” at www.health.vic.gov.au 

Lost Property

The lost Property Pile is huge! If your child has lost an item of property we welcome you to come in and take a look. Restrictions have lifted surrounding parents in the school buildings, so parents are able to search through lost property (situated by the student toilets) for any missing uniform, lunchboxes, drink bottles, etc.  All unclaimed items will be thrown out if not collected by the end of term.

Asthma and Anaphylaxis Students

The Department of Education requires each student that has Asthma or Anaphylaxis to have a Management Plan. The plans are written up by the school and will be sent home with the students for parents to sign and return to school. We also require any students with Asthma to fill out a school camp and excursion form that needs to be completed prior to the students going on camps or excursions. 

Absence Notifications

If your child is late or absent from school without explanation from parents, an SMS will be sent to Adult A at around 10.15am. Please respond to the SMS promptly. Please note the following: 

If your child is LATE FOR SCHOOL, a parent must accompany the child to the office when you arrive, sign your child in the Early Leavers/Late Arrival book and take a “Late Pass” for your child to hand to their teacher. Rolls are marked promptly at 9am. If the music has finished and your child is not yet in class, they have probably missed the roll.

If your child will be ABSENT FROM SCHOOL, we ask that you either:

• Log onto Skoolbag and record the absence

• Phone the school on 5426 1518 and leave a message on the absence voicemail; or
• Send an email to the school’s email address; macedon.ps@education.vic.gov.au

If you need to take your child EARLY FROM SCHOOL we ask that you:

• Call or email the office to advise what time you will be collecting your child so we can have them ready at the office.

• come to the office to sign your child out.

Working With Children Checks

All parents, carers and other visitors to Macedon Primary require a current Working With Children’s Check to volunteer at the school. To apply for a volunteer WWCC you simply log on to

https://www.workingwithchildren.vic.gov.au/ (its free!)

If you have a current WWCC or VIT and have not advised the office, please bring your card into the office to have it photocopied or simply take a photo of the card and email it to the office at macedon.ps@education.vic.gov.au

If parents do not have a current working with children check, they cannot attend camps/excursions.

Julie  and Emma

F/1TT - Lara B - For always doing her personal best.

F/1TT - Stevie B - For terrific work and giving everything a go.

F/1MS - Patrick D - for doing a fantastic job during number time.

1KH - Joe G - For being a fabulous helper!

1KH - Sarah B - For amazing mental computation when solving addition with 4 digit numbers.

1/2KB - Yuka P - For the increased confidence shown in guided reading.

2RG - Fletcher R - For writing a fantastic story.

3VW - Hugh W - For fantastic work learning his times tables using 'octables'

3VW - Olive S - For a great effort with placing fractions on a number line.

3/4MS - Max M - For setting an excellent role model for listening attentively.

3/4MS - Maddie D - For a "wow" moment in understanding equivalent fractions.

3/4MS - Joseph C - For a super effort with his persuasive writing piece.

4CS - Lily B - For her happy, hardworking approach to all areas of her learning.

4CS - Lexie J - For her fabulous fractions maths work.

4/5BT - Noah S - For a great effort in narrative writing.

4/5BT - Declan B - For excellent maths results!

5/6SK - Austin B - For the reflective manner in which you take part in all learning activities.

5/6SK - For her positive attitude towards her learning.

6AB - Sarah W - For excellent understanding of the T.E.E.L framework.

6AB - Hudson P - For excellent effort during literacy time.

Connor L – Curtin – excellent listening.

Indi M – Hume – excellent listening 

Our rates are: $15.00 for Before School Care (7:00am - 8:45am) and $22.00 for After School Care (3:30pm - 6:30pm). All you need to do is call the school 5426 1518 or email oshp@macedonps.vic.edu.au to book.  If the unexpected happens and a casual booking is required within 24 hours, please contact the school via phone, we cannot accept walk-ins after school.  Please note that enrolment forms need to be completed at least one business day before the first session of care.

Please pay through the school via Direct Deposit, using the following details (not BPay):

Account name: Macedon Primary School

BSB: 063-840

Account: 1003 4330

Vicki, Helen, Karen & Marie.