Macedon Primary School Newsletter

18 March 2020

School Values: Respect, Responsibility, Creativity, Integrity, Teamwork

Principal's Report

Dear Parents and Carers,

COVID – 19 update

Scott Morrison’s announcement this morning about school closures was clear and I believe we can expect to remain open for the foreseeable future.  The staff and I are adjusting these new expectations about closures and trying to settle into the new normal of teaching in the current environment.

Home Learning Resources

Your email addresses will all be added to the online home learning resources this afternoon.  The current home learning resources are no substitute for quality instruction from our experienced staff but they will give parents with children at home some guidance as to what they can do to maintain the learning continuity.

Teachers will be prioritising their focus on their physical classroom from now until the end of the term and will do their best to support students who are at home via email and SeeSaw messages.  We will reassess this arrangement after the holidays.

If you are not receiving email messages from the school, can you please contact the office ASAP so we can make sure we have the correct contact details for you in our system.

If there is a large volume of online requests for support from students at home, teachers will work their way through the requests during their allocated work hours and we request your patience with this. 

The resources will be in the form of a digital weekly overview with learning intentions, success criteria, activities and relevant digital links for each of the core subjects each day.  Some of this work may require one to one assistance from parents, particularly in the younger years. 

Video link up may be a possibility down the track, however at this stage we have just provided a basic package of resources.  If you have trouble accessing your resources please contact you classroom teacher for support via email.

 

Please find the staff email addresses below.

FTT – tadd.tracy.l@edumail.vic.gov.au

FMS – strong.millicent.m@edumail.vic.gov.au

1KB – baker.karren.j@edumail.vic.gov.au

1KH – hall.kirstie.j@edumail.vic.gov.au

2RG – glassey.rachel.r@edumail.vic.gov.au

23VW – wuthrich.veronica.v@edumail.vic.gov.au

3MS – smith.martin.r@edumail.vic.gov.au

34CS – coates.heather.a@edumail.vic.gov.au , smillie.melissa.a@edumail.vic.gov.au

45BT – taylor.belinda.a@edumail.vic.gov.au

56AB – Bortolot.Anthony.L@edumail.vic.gov.au

56SH – hamilton.stacey.a@edumail.vic.gov.au

Performing Arts - butler-rees.lucy.l@edumail.vic.gov.au

Visual Arts – pain.carolyn.c@edumail.vic.gov.au

Physical education – Oxworth.David.D@edumail.vic.gov.au

Indonesian - mansell.deryn.h@edumail.vic.gov.au


Matthew Forrest

Principal

What has been happening at MPS this week

written by Ben from 3/4CS
Jack B enjoying art outside
Tom G painting outside
"Walk like an Egyptian" with Mrs B

Important Dates to Remember

  • 27 March - Easter Raffle drawn at 2:00pm
  • 27 March - END OF TERM 1 (early finish 2:30pm)  
  • Tuesday 14 April - START OF TERM 2 
  • 22 April - House Athletics Yr 3 - 6 @ Dixon Field, Gisborne TBC
  • 29 April - House Cross Country Yr 3 - 6 @ Tony Clarke. 9:00 -11:30am TBC
  • 6 May - Mothers Days Stall
  • 8 May - District Cross Country @ Dixon Field (selected students) TBC
  • 21 May - District Soccer  @ Dixon Field (selected students) TBC
  • 19 June - Winter Solstice
  • 26 June - LAST DAY OF TERM 2 (early finish 2:30pm) 

From the office...

Absence Notifications

Thank you to the parents who have notified the school if your child is going to be absent. The decision to send children to school or self-isolate them remains the concern of individual parents and families.

It remains important for parents to contact the school as normal regarding absences from school and to provide a brief explanation for the absence. We are monitoring the number of student absences each day due to self isolation and/or illness.

There are many ways to notify the school, phone, email and the Skoolbag App.

Sick Bay visits

If your child attends sick bay complaining of a sore throat, cough, cold or sore stomach you will be contacted and asked to collect them. We remind parents that we are first aid officers only, not nurses and cannot give medical advice. We always recommend you contact a medical professional.  We thank you for your understanding.

Thank you,

Julie & Emma

Easter Raffle - will still be drawn on 27th March

Donations are still being accepted, boxes are in the foyer

Farewell and Thank you

We would like to say farewell to one of our school crossing supervisors, Melanie Matthews. Melanie was been working on the Carrington Street crossing for the past 10 years.  We thank Melanie for keeping our students safe for all of these years and wish her well in her future endeavours.

Join us to Take Action Together on Friday 20 March

On Friday 20 March 2020, our school will stand together against bullying and violence to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the National Day of Action against Bullying and Violence (NDA). The NDA is Australia’s key anti-bullying event for schools. It is a positive day of action which strengthens our everyday message that bullying and violence have no place at Macedon Primary School. As a proud NDA school, we are encouraging all parents and carers to save the date for the NDA, being held on Friday 20 March.  At our school, we have a range of programs in place to address bullying, including Kids Matter and our Anti Bullying policy.

The eldest in the family should have brought home a pocket card from Bullying. No Way! with tips on what to do if your child talks to you about bullying.  Parents know their children best and know the best way to tailor communication to their needs. Adapt these tips to what works for you and your child. The NDA provides an opportunity to put our programs in the spotlight and work together as a community (parents, teachers, staff and students) to talk about bullying and finding workable solutions to address it together. Parents and carers are encouraged to visit the Bullying. No Way! website (www.bullyingnoway.gov.au) for advice and useful information. The NDA is about bringing community together and to recognise the importance of standing united to say Bullying. No Way!    

Special Persons Day

Thank you to all the 'Special People' that came along to school last Friday. The children had spent many hours preparing their work to share with those who are special to them. Please find below some photos of the afternoon.

Ride to school day

Thank you to the students who participated in ride to school day last Friday. We counted over 100 students!  Thank you to the parents who organised for their children to ride or scoot, the weather was also helpful on the day with the rain staying away until the evening.

Uniform Clear out

We are having a uniform clear out on our existing stock. Order through the QKR! App and we can deliver items to your child.

Student Achievement Awards

Well done to the following students . These awards will be presented to the students in their classrooms on Friday afternoon.

Outside School Hours Care

Please note, if your children are absent from school and therefore absent from OSHC, please let us know. We currently have wait-lists in place for some afternoons and if you do not need your spot you are keeping it from a family that does need it.

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.

The Ranges Music Network

The Ranges Music Network has programs underway now at Macedon Primary School!  Ensemble and band groups are starting this week and next: Funkateers Jam Band (Tuesdays after school), Disney Club (Fridays before school), Musical Theatre (Fridays after school).  Let us know asap if you'd like to get involved in these groups.

 

Group lessons are underway during the afternoons (from 12:30 to 3:30) including Guitars, Woodwinds (Doods & Toots), Violin and Voice.  Email info@rangesmusic.net if you'd like to join any of these group sessions.  Individual lessons available on some instruments.

 

Coming soon: Brass or Trumpet, Harp, Percussion, Ensemble Keyboards. 

 

All our program info for Macedon Primary is available at https://rangesmusic.net/mps or reach out to Program Director, Shaun Evans at info@rangesmusic.net.

Middle Gully Landcare

Last week 3/4CS observed various vegetables, fruit and herbs, and created drawings from these still-lives that will be used as part of the Seed Savers initiative (in Woodend). It is intended that the student drawings will be scaled down and used on the seed packets to identify the seeds within them. The Woodend library is coordinating the Seed Saver Library, so any questions related to this project can be directed there.

3/4CS did a brilliant job observing and drawing!  If you would like to be a part, come along on  Thursday afternoon. Please see timetable below for when your child's class is going to Middle Gully.

School Council

The School Council meets eight times each year, but much of the work in between meetings is done by small enthusiastic subcommittees. 

We would like to congratulate and welcome four new school councillors onto the Macedon PS School council.  Thank you Justin Sawyers, Christine Denyer, Duncan McGauchie and Danny Kane for volunteering your time and expertise to supporting the school in this way.

I would also like to thank the four parents who have finished their two year tenure on the school council.  Thank you Dale Ranson, Andrew Jeanes, Carolyn Edwards and Kathy Wyatt for their commitment and support of the Macedon PS school council over the last two years.  These four parents all supported the school to drive improvement in a wide range of areas such as improving the facilities and grounds, launching the Macedon Village Farmers’ Market, researching and arranging new uniform shop arrangements and improving the financial processes of our school.  

We are having a 'virtual' school council meeting tonight, the 18th of March at 7:00pm.

 

Community News

Macedon Primary School

Macedon Primary School acknowledges the Wurundjeri people as the traditional owners of the country upon which we learn and work. We recognise their continuing connection to land, water and community and pay respect to Elders past, present and emerging.