Macedon Primary School Newsletter

17 August 2022

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

Principal's Report

Dear parents,

2022 Book Week Parade - Change of Date for the Parade – Thursday 25th of August

We are celebrating book week next week.  We will have a range of activities for our students across the week to celebrate our love of reading and books in this week culminating our annual book week dress up parade on Thursday the 25th of August.  The parade will be between 9:30am and 10:30am.  It is always a fun day, and we look forward to seeing what our students come up with as a costume.  We encourage everyone to re-use and recycle household items for their costume if possible.

Macedon PS Learning Expo – How the world works?

The students have been engaging in and range science-based learning this term, from space, physics, forces, and habitats.  The topic is an exploration of the physical and material world; of natural and human-made phenomena; of the world of science and technology.

We are celebrating our learning in this project with a science learning expo on the 8th of September between 4pm and 6pm.  We will be opening our classrooms up for you to share and experience some of what our students have been learning in this time.  We look forward to seeing you there.

Recent Science Excursions

As a part of the focus on learning about science there have been some recent excursions and incursions to engage the student’s imagination and link their learning at school with real world experiences.  Our year 3/4 students went to the Melbourne Zoo last Friday and our 1/2 students attended the Bendigo Discovery Science and Technology centre on Monday.  The students had a fantastic time and can now incorporate their learning into their science projects before our Macedon PS Learning Expo.   Our Year 6’s are also engaged with CERES to complete some sustainability earning and improvements in Middle Gully.  Thank you to our teachers who have organised these events and for all the parent helpers who have volunteered their time to attend and support our students.

Xuno – School Management Platform

Thank you to those parents who have already signed up to the Xuno platform.  Xuno is a school management platform to help us streamline the information management at the front office.  It should act as a one stop shop for everything school related and help us get the information you need when you need it.

Currently on Xuno you can advise us of absences, update your personal details and access your child’s semester one reports.  In the future we plan to use the system to arrange excursion permission slips and payments in a paperless way and manage all our news and announcements.  I encourage you to login via your welcome email, use the button on the Macedon PS webpage or click the link below.

https://macedonps.xuno.com.au/index.php

Kind regards and Sampai jumpa (until next time),

 

Matt

Important Dates

18 August - ICAS English exam

22 August - Grade 1/2 swimming, Kyneton 

25 August - Book week parade (new date)

26 August - Grade 1/2 swimming, Kyneton 

29 August - Grade 1/2 swimming, Kyneton

30 August - District Athletics (selected Yr 3 -6 students) **NEW DATE**

1 September - ICAS Maths Exam

2 September - Grade 1/2 swimming, Kyneton

5 September - Grade 1/2 swimming, Kyneton

8 September - Science Expo 4 - 6 pm

9 September - Grade 5/6 Hot shot tennis, Gisborne 

13 September - School photo day 

14 September - District basketball

16 September - Last day of term 3 - 2:30pm dismissal

TERM 4:

3 October - First day of term 4

18 October - 21 October - Year 5 & 6 Camp - Howqua

31st October - Curriculum Day (student free day)

1st November - Melbourne Cup holiday (student free day)

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

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

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

Family Portrait Fundraiser - 11 September

We are pleased to advise that our family portrait fundraiser is on this year. We have used this company previously and the photos are always beautiful. If the weather permits, photos can be taken in the blossoming orchard at Middle Gully. If you have any queries, please contact Ronelle on 0413900804. Bookings can be made at the following link:

Macedon Primary School - Booking by Bookwhen

Dressing for Macedon Winter

Winter is in full swing and the mornings are frosty, we remind parents to dress their children with plenty of layers. The classrooms are all warm, however at recess and lunchtime the children need to be dressed appropriately.  Our lost property has numerous jackets, jumpers and coats. I Please come in and take a look.

If your child is coming home muddy, please pack a spare set of clothes in their bag. We have limited spare clothes in sick bay and would appreciate if you could supply your own.

From the office

Head lice

We are getting advised on a daily basis of head lice in students. They are most prevalent in the younger grades, but they can occur in any aged child. Please check your child's hair for lice on a regular basis and if you see any eggs or live lice, please treat according. If you child has long hair, it is advisable to keep their hair tied back to avoid the spread of lice. Please find a link to the Better Health website https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/conditionsandtreatments/head-lice-nits



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

Student Achievement Awards

The following awards will be handed out at Assembly this Friday in the JCB at 3:00pm

FKB - Toto B - for being able to explain his mathematical answers.

1/2AM - Beatice B - for writing a very detailed report about her time at the Discovery Centre.

1/2CS - Matilda C - for her thoughtful contributions to our reading discussions and always giving her best.

1/2CS - Ava K - for her determination and hard work on her wonderful 'seasons book'

1/2TT - Ted S - for a terrific effort to improve his writing.

1/2TT  - Seb L - for being an amazing listener and learner at the science and discovery centre.

3/4GS - Asha T - for showing great persistence and determination during our maths challenges - well done!

3/4GS - Johnny F - for great improvement in numeracy!

5/6RC - Oscar P - for his excellent contributions to our vocabulary discussions.

3/4VW - Marlow E - for great planning his recount writing.

3/4VW - Emily B - for writing an interesting and detailed recount of our zoo excursion.

5/6AB - Declan B - for being a kind, polite and responsible student.

5/6AB - Ava K - for amazing work in understanding abstract maths concepts.

5/6AB - Phoebe B - for great improvement in numeracy!

5/6MS - Mason D - for his wonderful contribution during spelling and grammar lessons.

5/6MS - Lucy D - for her excellent writing when creating an imaginative narrative.

VISUAL ART AWARDS

3/4VW - Evie E - for amazing dedication to creative club yarn.

3/4VW - Estee F - for unbelievable dedication and determination with our yarn bombing project.

3/4VW - Olive S - for being unbelievable helpful, focused and talented in visual art.

 


Middle Gully Program Update

18th August – Grade 5's from AB and 5RC

25th August – 3/4MS and 1/2CS

1st September – 1/2TT and 1/2AM

8th September – No Landcare – preparation for Expo

15th September – Foundation classes

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.

3/4 Zoo Excursion Photos

Grade 6 CERES Visit

Last Thursday the grade 6 students participated in an incursion with Clare from CERES. This was to design and establish an Indigenous garden. The students learnt about what plant species were native to this area. It was a great 'hands on' experience and the students really enjoyed it.

Indonesian News

In Indonesian this term, Year 3/4 students have been experimenting to see if we can grow rice in Macedon. If you look at this picture very very closely, you might be tempted to answer, 'Yes!' At least, we've shown that a grain of rice will germinate. When you come to the expo on September 8, make sure you come to the 3/4 classrooms to see how our mini 'sawah' are growing.

Art Update

In the Art room this week we're printing the Collagraph plates we created last week, with some fantastic results! 

Call out for boxes. Mrs Tulloch is organising a huge Steam Punk Art activity for the school expo night, but she needs boxes of any shape or size (but preferably small - think iphone box or smaller) and anything robotty, like cardboard tubes or old vaccum pipes etc. Any dead small electrical appliances that we could use parts out of would be great too.  No toilet roll tubes please.

STEM Update

This week the Grade 1 and 2 students have been working on... Powerpoints! - Yes, I know they don't sound like the most exciting thing in the world, but bear with me here. 

Students are learning how to create their own, interactive digital books and PowerPoint or Keynotes, are a great way to do this.

As well as learning new things like typing, annotations, drawings and finding (accurate) information on the internet, they are also just having fun using the simple transitions between slides, and let's be honest, we all like a good Powerpoint slide change...

Mr. Garcia

Scholastic Book Club - Term 3

What is Book Club?

Scholastic Book Club gives children access to books and encourages excitement around reading. We only have one issue per term, your child should have brought home a catalogue last week. With each issue, students get very excited to look through the catalogue!

Why our school runs Book Club

- Our school believes in promoting and supporting literacy at school and at home to help your child become an independent reader.

- Book Club is divided into sections with recommended ages to allow easy access to the books they like, at the appropriate reading level.

- Every Issue contains affordable books from just $3.

- A wide range of titles from the latest releases to the classics, and also reading and learning activities.

The Benefits of Ordering on Book Club

- For every purchase 20% in Scholastic Rewards goes back to our school to spend on resources.

- Free, easy delivery to our school.

- Your child will love the experience of choosing their own books and receiving them in class.

How to Order on Book Club

- Simple online ordering process. https://mybookclubs.scholastic.com.au/parent/login.aspx

- Each Issue of Book Club is only offered for a limited time, so order as soon as you can!

Our next bookclub orders are due by the 2nd of September

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.

School Council Report

At our recent school council meeting (Wednesday 27 July), we discussed potential options for lunch orders. A number of council members, with the support of Emma Tuck, are looking into this issue further and will update parents with more information soon. 

Work continues on our school grounds with the Library Learning Hub near completion and solar panels being installed. Proposals put forward by our Grade 6 students in Terms 1 and 2 are progressing; the new flag poles for the LGBTIQ+, Torres Strait lslander, Aboriginal and Australian flags are to be installed soon.

We thank Sam Evans, who has recently resigned from school council, for her contributions to the school. We also thank Karren Baker who stepped up to the role of Acting Principal while Matt was on leave. 

Wishing everyone a productive Term 3.

Julie Monk on behalf of the Macedon Primary School Councilors

School Photos - 13 September

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.