Macedon Primary School Newsletter

26 August 2020

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

Principals Report

Dear parents and carers, 

I hope this newsletter finds you and your family well.  We are slowly making our way through this second lock down and with the sun shining and some warmer weather on the horizon I am starting to feel some optimism creeping in.

Brighten up the Front Office - Design a sun competition

There are only two more days to get your entry to me for the “Design a sun competition”.  Please send your designs to Matthew.Forrest@education.vic.gov.au by 4pm Friday 28 August to be in the running.  Once all the entries have been received I will set up a survey and student voting for our favourite design.  Once a preferred option is agreed on I will have the sun printed so it can brighten up our front office.

Possible Return to School Update

At this stage there is still no advice from the Department of Education on when school will return to face-to-face teaching and learning.  The Minister for Education, James Merlino, announced yesterday that he is “confident schools will return to face-to-face teaching in term four,” however, we are unsure at this stage exactly when in term four that will be.  The return to face-to-face will be determined by the Chief Health Officer.  As soon as I hear anything I will let you know.

Camps

Unfortunately, we have recently learned that the camps in Howqua and Portsea have been closed for the remainder of 2020.  This means that our year 5/6 camp and 3/4 camp have been cancelled. 

We are still hopeful to run a Middle Gully student activity program in Macedon, without sleepovers, to provide our students an outdoor education experience in term four.  We will need to be creative to maintain the minimum safety requirements for student to adult ratios for these activities without using parent volunteers.  Parent volunteers are currently not allowed in Victorian schools.  At this stage we are waiting to hear more from the Department of Education about what term four will look like.

Please enjoy a safe and happy week and I look forward to seeing you at the virtual assembly on Friday at 3:05pm if you can make it.  

https://eduvic.webex.com/webappng/sites/eduvic/meeting/download/5c51e9f011ce4ef0b35766dec5b226d8?siteurl=eduvic&MTID=m443d628f25a9c0d5cdf463bd1d81ba90

Remember to call or email me if you need support with anything. matthew.forrest@education.vic.gov.au 

Stay well,

Matthew Forrest

Principal

Important Dates

We had a number of events due to take place in term 3 which have now been postponed to term 4. We are in consultation with the other parties and when we can confirm dates we will.

School Photos - new date 18th November

SEA (Sex Education Australia) Program - postponed, we are looking at confirming dates in term 4

ICAS - original dates postponed, will confirm new dates shortly

Information for parents on Managing the Corona-coaster

There are many resources available online for families looking for information on how to assist their children (and themselves) during this challenging time. I listened to a webinar by Dr Michael Carr-Gregg, a leading child and adolescent psychologist, and he suggested parents look at the following websites;

The Department's http://education.vic.gov.au has information and advice regarding learning from home, how to talk to your child about coronavirus, bullying prevention, looking after yourself and your child's mental and physical health and wellbeing.

FUSE, https://fuse.education.vic.gov.au - the Department's online learning hub has activities and tips that will help your family to keep heathy and active as well as links to further resources and ideas for getting through lockdown.

Schooltv - https://schooltv.me

Building Resilience in Children https://www.beyondblue.org.au/who-does-it-affect/children/building-resilience-in-children-aged-0-12

Smiling mind - https://www.smilingmind.com.au/

There is also Kids Helpline on 1800 55 1800 if they would like to speak to someone. The Department will launching more initiatives in September and Dr Carr-Gregg will be hosting another webinar, I will send the information out when it comes to hand.

Stay Safe,

Emma

From the Office

Office is open

Please note that during this period of remote learning the school office remains open. We can be contacted via phone on 5426 1518, email on macedon.ps@education.vic.gov.au, or if necessary, over the counter (please observe social distancing and wear a mask). 

Stay safe and well,

Julie and Emma

Achievement Awards

The following awards will be announced at this weeks 'virtual' assembly. 

 https://eduvic.webex.com/webappng/sites/eduvic/meeting/download/5c51e9f011ce4ef0b35766dec5b226d8?siteurl=eduvic&MTID=m443d628f25a9c0d5cdf463bd1d81ba90

Indonesian News

Thank you to all of the students and staff who participated in our Karnaval Sepeda competition.  There were so many great entries and it was great to see your ideas.  The class participation award goes to 1KH and more awards will be announced soon. In the meantime, please enjoy some more photos. 

Austin - 4/5BT
Cooper - 2RG
Jess - 5/6AB
Harper - 2/3VW
Ida - FMS
Jayden - 2/3VW
Madison - 3MS
Mia and Ruby S
Sean - FMS
Oliver - FMS
Oscar - 3/4CS
Asha - 1KH

Outside School Hours Care

A reminder to all parents that social distancing rules apply in the OSHC room, can parents please remain outside the JCB building during pick up and drop off and please maintain a 1.5 metre distance between yourself and the OSHC staff members.

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.

School Council update

The 2020 Macedon Primary School Council members are:

  Parents - Nina Moncrief (President), Justin Sawyers (Vice President), Danielle Grigg (Treasurer), Tiffany Barton (Secretary), Christine Denyer, Danny Kane, Duncan McGauchie and Melinda Rollinson.

Teachers - Matthew Forrest, Karren Baker, Martin Smith and Veronica Wuthrich.

 

At the School Council WebEx meeting held on 19 August 2020, the discussion included:

  • Grant Application Made – An application has been lodged for funding under the state government’s minor capital works fund.  A response is due by the end of September.
  • Repainting Commenced – With students learning from home, the repainting of the school’s interior has commenced.   
  • Pine Plantation – The school had recently received confirmation that it may continue to use the land, but that there is no agency available to manage the site other than as a pine plantation.  
  • Farmers Market – The Macedon Village Farmers Market scheduled for August will not be held, and it is likely that one scheduled for October will also be cancelled.  A Farmers Market representative will be invited to attend a School Council meeting to update on plans for 2021.
  • Working Bees – With COVID-19 restrictions, the school has not been able to run any working bees on school grounds.  Instead, contractors have been paid to complete the required general maintenance and gardening.   

  • The next school council meeting will be on Wednesday 9th September 2020 at 7pm.

    • Scholastic Book Club - Term 3

    Due to the current COVID restrictions we have decided to move Scholastic bookclub orders to home delivery only. This means you can still order through Scholastic and receive credits for the school, however, there is a delivery fee of $5.99.

    https://mybookclubs.scholastic.com.au/Parent/Login.aspx


    Recipe of the week - Sponge Cake

    Ingredients:

    2/3 cup plain flour

    4 tbsp custard powder

    1 tsp baking power

    4 eggs

    2/3 cup caster sugar

    1 tbsp water, if required.

    Method:

    1. Set oven at 190 C

    2. Brush or spray 2 sponge pans with oil/melted butter and line the bases with baking paper.

    3. Separate the eggs placing the whites into a mixing bowl (keep the yolks).

    4. Beat the egg whites until fluffy and stiff using an electric or rotary beater or whisk.  The eggs should form a soft peak.

    5. Gradually add the sugar while beating.  This will become glossy and form a stiff peak.

    6. Add the egg yolks and continue beating until the mixture forms a figure of eight and resembles thick cream.

    7. Using a metal spoon fold in the sifted flour very lightly.  If it is very thick, add the water.  Do not over mix.

    8. Carefully pour into the sponge pans and bake at 190 C for 20 minutes.

    9. When baked remove from the sponge pans immediately and place right side up to cool on a flat surface.

    10. Add jam and cream and sandwich the sponge cakes together.  Dust the top with icing sugar.

    Community News

    Wear it Purple Day - Friday 28th August

    Friday 28 August is Wear it Purple Day – an international day of recognition celebrating LGBTIQA+ young people. Minus18 are hosting an online Wear it Purple Extravaganza event to celebrate the day. There are a bunch of resources to download at wearitpurple.org/ including posters, information, social media tiles and zoom backgrounds.

    PERK (Parents Empowering Rainbow Kids)

    WayOut continues to offer support to parents, carers and families of rainbow young people through PERK – a network to provide support, education, information and opportunities for LGBTIQ+ young people.  Please get in touch with Rhani or Mez on 5421 1666 to find out how to join. We are also available for secondary consults for teachers and caregivers of rainbow young people and provide Inclusive Practice Training. 

    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.