Macedon Primary School Newsletter

2 November 2022

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

Principal's Report

Dear parents,

Year 3/4 Camp

There was a real buzz in the school this morning with the Year 3/4 students leaving for their two-night camp at Camp Weekaway.  The students will experience many outdoor education activities which will engage and stretch their comfort zones.  It is a great opportunity for them to connect with each other and their teachers on a different level and build social and teamworking skills that are unique to the school camp experience.  We wish them all well and look forward to hearing all the stories upon their return.

 

Farmers’ Market

We held another successful Macedon Farmers’ Market on Saturday with the wet weather plan enacted once again.  The oval is always the best spot for the market, however we need to avoid driving on there at the moment as it is very soggy.

School parent Briohny Lebbink is the key organisers for the market and I would like to acknowledge and thank her for all of her work.  The Farmers’ Market has brought in almost $8000 in revenue this year to date, with another market to go, we’re looking to have a very successful year.  If you are able to support Briohny with the market or any other whole school event, we are always looking for volunteers to help with our fundraising efforts.  The next fundraiser will be the sausage sizzle on election day.  We will be breaking out the new BBQ, purchased with fundraising profits, to cook and serve some democracy sausages.

Kind regards and Sampai jumpa (until next time),

Matt

Grade 3/4 Camp attendees having fun!

The Australian Fire Danger System

In September 2022, all jurisdictions across Australia will implement a new fire danger forecasting system, the Australian Fire Danger Rating System (AFDRS).  This will deliver a nationally consistent system for fire danger ratings based on the latest scientific research.

What's changed?

The new Extreme fire danger rating under the AFDRS will cover a broader scope of fire ratings combining the current Severe and Extreme fire danger rating.

In addition, Code Red will now be known as Catastrophic fire danger.

What does that mean for us?

Macedon Primary is classified as a Category 2 school, meaning that we will now relocate in accordance with our pre-approved plan on a day forecast Extreme FDR  for our LGA (Local Government Area).

We will continue to communicate with the school community over the coming months about how the AFDRS change will be applied and how we can support the community through the transition.


COVID update


COVID-19 isolation requirements have changed

The Victorian Government has announced the end of the Pandemic Declaration and associated Pandemic Orders.

The following settings, based on advice from the Department of Health, will apply from 11.59pm Wednesday 12 October 2022.

It is strongly recommended that students:

  • who test positive to COVID-19 stay home and isolate for 5 days
  • should not attend school after 5 days if still symptomatic
  • who are symptomatic but have not tested positive should not attend school
  • advise the school of the COVID-19 positive test result

Where students become symptomatic at school they should:

  • be collected by their parents/carers
  • undergo testing for COVID-19

Reporting positive COVID-19 test results

The Department of Health recommends that a person who tests positive for COVID-19 should inform those with whom they have recently been in contact, including their workplace, schools and household.

Parents and carers will therefore be asked to continue to report positive student COVID-19 cases using the VicED COVID Tool.

COVID-19 vaccination changes

The current mandatory vaccination requirement for staff and visitors, contractors and volunteers working in specialist schools will cease to apply from 11.59pm Wednesday 12 October. COVID-19 vaccination, including booster doses, continues to be strongly recommended for all school staff.

Face masks

Staff and students who wish to wear a face mask should be supported to do so, and schools should continue to make face masks available for staff, students and visitors.

The Department of Health recommends that masks should be worn by a person who is a close contact of someone who has tested positive for COVID-19 when leaving home.

Additionally, the Department of Health recommends that masks should be worn by a person who has COVID-19, for at least 7 days after a positive test, when they need to leave home.

Important Dates

2 November - 4 November - Year 3 & 4 Camp - Weekaway Lancefield

2 November - Yr 5/6 Bike Ed session 1

4 November - First Foundation 2023 transition morning

8 November - Yr 5/6 Bike Ed session 2

10 November - District Orienteering - Yr F -6  Tony Clarke Reserve *Rescheduled*

11 November - Regional Orienteering Yr 3-6 

14 November - District Cricket - Yr 5/6

15 November - Yr 5/6 Bike Ed session 3

17 November - BagusKan Indonesian incursion

18 November - Second Foundation 2023 transition morning

22 November - Yr 5/6 Bike Ed Session 4

24 November - Yr 5/6 Bike ride to Hanging Rock

25 November - Foundation excursion - Fairy Park

30 November - Grade 6 'Choosical' wellbeing half day

1 December - Foundation Activities - Middle Gully from 11:30am

2 December - Foundation Activities - walk 9:00am-12:30pm

5 December - 6 December - Year 1 & 2 Camp - Lady Northcote 

7 December - Third Foundation 2023 transition morning

8 December - Tabloid Sports Day 9:30am - 11:00am

8 December - Billy Cart Race Day 

13 December - Forth Foundation 2023 transition morning

14 December - Grade 6 Graduation

16 December - Grade 6 City Excursion

20 December - Last day of the year (1:00pm dismissal)

Got Ya Awards

Jonah M – Hume – For being a great helper

Jasper K – Bourke – For being focused during partner reading

Daisy R – Curtin – For great concentration

Oskar M – Curtin – For being focused during partner reading

Whole School Orienteering - rescheduled to 10 November

All children from Foundation to Year 6 will be participating in our local Orienteering program to be held at Tony Clarke Reserve in Macedon, on Thursday 10thNovember 2022. There is no cost for this event.

Children will leave school soon after 9am and walk to the Reserve, returning around 12:15pm.  

This is a house event, so children are encouraged to wear house colours.

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 and/or assist with the running of the program throughout the morning. Please contact David Oxworth or the office if you are able to assist on the day.

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.

Mr O

From the office

Spare Clothes

With the wet weather upon us and the school grounds muddy, we are asking student to pack a spare change of clothes. We have a limited supply of spare clothes in the sick bay, however, we would appreciate you to bring in some spare from home. Also,  if your child does borrow some clothes, please returned them to the school.

Xuno

Thank you to those parents that have logged into the Xuno platform and set up their passwords. Macedon Primary is starting the transition to Xuno. Parents can login now and look up student reports for semester 1, 2022. You can also use Xuno to advise of absences, update your details, see the school calendar and your child's attendance.  We will eventually be able to accept payments for excursions and book parent/teacher interviews. To access Xuno please click on the link https://macedonps.xuno.com.au/index.php or there is a tab on the school webpage. 

Late arrivals

If your child is late to school (after 9:00am) can you please sign them in at the office. The teachers mark the rolls at 9:00am and if your child is late to class they will be marked as absent and you will receive an SMS asking about their whereabouts.  The classrooms are open from 8:50am.

Foundation 2023 enrolments

Foundation enrolments for 2023 are now open. If you have a child that is starting school next year of have friends or family interested in enrolling their child at Macedon Primary, please contact the office for an enrolment form or click on the following link: https://macedonps.vic.edu.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/2023-Student_Enrolment_Form_Updated_Feb_2018.pdf 

Voluntary Curriculum Contributions

The process for invoicing parents for voluntary curriculum contributions. If you are unsure if you have paid or if you would like to pay, please contact the office.

Working with Children Check

All parent helpers at Macedon Primary must have a valid working with children check. It is free for a volunteer check, please apply online at https://www.workingwithchildren.vic.gov.au/individuals/applicants/how-to-apply-1If you have a valid working with check and have yet to provide it to the school, please email a copy or come into the office and we will take a copy.

Julie and Emma

Sports Tops

Do you have a sports top at home that hasn't made its way back to school? We are missing quite a few sports tops and would appreciate it if families could return any tops. Thanks!

Middle Gully Program Update

3rd November – 5/6RC

10th November – 1/2AM

17th November – 1/2TT

24th November - 1/2CS

1st December – 2 x Foundation classes from 11.30am

8th December – No Landcare

15th December –5/6AB and 5/6MS

Parent helpers are always welcome, please sign in at the office prior to going over to Middle Gully and make sure the office has seen your current Working With Childrens Check.

Our sessions are on a Thursday afternoon from 2:00pm - 3:30pm. 

Younger siblings are welcome, but must be supervised by their parent or guardian.

STEM Update

Today the Grade 3 and 4 students were off on camp, which means I could do my usual 'take over the empty classroom' routine, and as the classroom in question also had a whole class set of shiny new laptops, I thought it was a perfect excuse to introduce the junior students to the wonderful world of... using a keyboard!

Once we got over the fact that "keyboards are weird and the keys are all in the wrong place" students had a ball learning how to type (no, really, they actually love it)

It was a great little experiment, and seeing how some of our senior students can struggle with using things we take for granted on computers, it was great to see how quickly (and excitedly) our junior students pick them up.

Next year I will be focusing more time on these ICT skills with our junior students in the first Term to make life easier for them (and me) in later years.

Mr. Garcia

Sunsmart Reminder

In line with our Sunsmart policy, we ask that all students come to school with a wide brimmed hat. At recess and lunchtime and any other times when outdoors all students must wear a hat. Students who are not wearing hats will be asked to play in the shade or in a suitable area protected from the sun.

Hats are available for purchase at Beleza Uniforms in Gisborne, or you can purchase any wide brimmed navy hat. We have sunscreen at the office if the children would like to wear sunscreen.

Outside School Hours Care

Please notify the office or email oshp@macedonps.vic.edu.au if your child is sick and will not be attending before or after school care.  

We now have spaces available for casual days, however you need to fill out an enrolment form PRIOR to your child starting at the service. f you have a permanent booking and do not need the service for After School please advise the program as soon as you know, preferably before 11.00am on the day so we are able to give that space to another child.  For Before School, please call before 6.30pm the day before or email the service on oshp@macedonps.vic.edu.au

Late cancellation fees apply if your child’s place is cancelled after 11.00am.  Further, if you do not cancel your child and they do not attend, fees may still apply.

Fees for 2022

Our rates for 2022 are: $16.00 for Before School Care (7:00am - 8:45am) and $23.00 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.

Community News

WayOut - Planet GAGA

We are excited to hold Planet GAGA during Transgender Awareness Week on Saturday 19 November in Kyneton.  

Planet GAGA (Gender Affirming Games and Activities) is a safe and affirming space for transgender, gender diverse and non-binary children and their parents/carers to connect with each other. Planet GAGA is facilitated by Sunbury and Cobaw Community Health’s WayOut program.

For more details and to RSVP please contact WayOut on 5421 1666 / healthpromotion@scchc.org.au

Macedon Junior Cricket

Macedon Cricket Club is running Woolworths Cricket Blast again this season. It’s a fun and fast programme for kids of all abilities to learn the skills and play Australia's favourite sport.

5 - 10 year olds. All welcome. 

It doesn't matter if you've never picked up a bat or ball. (We use rubber balls - not hard cricket balls).

Learn some skills, meet some other locals and most importantly - get out there and HAVE FUN.

Come and join the fun at Macedon Cricket Club (Tony Clark Reserve), Sunday mornings from 9:00 - 10:00, starting November 6th.  

Registration will be online via the Playcricket website.

You can find general details at playcricket.com.au. Any queries please contact Andrew (andrew.jeanes@robertbird.com.au)

For any budding cricketers 10-12 years of age Macedon Cricket Club would welcome enquires to come and join our U11 or U13 sides.  Please contact Todd (todd.c@qubedadvisory.com.au) or Clint (clint.grobler@gmail.com).

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.