Mount Macedon Primary Newsletter

Care - Create - Collaborate

Mount Macedon Primary School aims to develop positive, independent, resilient and inquiring students who are ready for the future.


Principal's Report

Tuesday 10th May 2022

Hello everyone,

This morning has been busy with school photographs, NAPLAN and swimming lessons. It has been a real balancing act, but everything went smoothly.

Our Grades 3 and 5 students undertook the Writing task today. They were asked to write a narrative piece about being “Brave”. The writing is assessed by external markers who look for things such as – a clear story line, use of appropriate vocabulary, correct narrative structure (beginning, problem, resolution) audience, appropriate writing, spelling, grammar, and punctuation.

Tomorrow our Grade 3 and 5 students will do the NAPLAN Reading test. They will each be given a range of different kinds of texts and asked to demonstrate their understanding, word knowledge and their ability to make inferences from what they have read. We try very hard to make the experience as positive as possible, but it does have to be held in strict test conditions and timings. I am really proud of the way all of the children managed the task today.

Congratulations to Amanda Hurren and her team who organised the Mother’s Day Soiree at the Wine Collective. I hope that you all had a wonderful time together. I know that the Fete Committee are meeting regularly and are already working hard for this year’s fete on November 12th. Please mark it on your diary as it has traditionally been an event that every family commits to and takes part in. We REALLY need your help. Over the next couple of months, you will be asked to participate in some way.

I’d also like to ask again for some help with the grounds. In the past we have always used parent help to manage the garden etc and paid qualified tradesmen to do the big jobs. I could employ someone to do the small jobs that are needed in the grounds, but my goal is channel our money towards improved educational outcomes for our students. I just occasionally need an hour of your time to help out a bit. On May 21st the majority of our community will be walking through the school to vote. I want our school to look fabulous and for every member of the community to be proud of it.

Congratulations to all parents. Last week we had every child in the school clear of nits/headlice. In the past it was such a terrible problem in the school, and it caused a lot of stress for parents and children. Go Team!!!  Nurse Amy is always available to provide support in this area.

Grade 5/6 camp is on in June. For three days our students will be exploring Melbourne. They will be going to the MCG, The Lume, Eureka Sky Deck, Vic Market, ACMI, the Aquarium and the live musical “Cinderella”. These camps are not cheap as most of the places the students go to require entrance fees and staying in the middle of Melbourne is costly. I am always here to support parents if the cost of the camp is too much for you. We have a payment plan available to help.

We still have small pockets of COVID in the school, so please keep an eye out for symptoms. Unfortunately, yesterday we had 6 staff absent for a variety of reasons. There will be days where I just can’t get enough emergency teachers to cover grades. I will always take a class if I can (teaching is still my favourite thing to do) but there may be times when I have to split a class between other grades. We are lucky that our grades have smaller numbers this year (because of the 6 classes) and I want to assure you that every teacher who is absent leaves a detailed plan of the day’s work for their students. I am loving the sense of normality that is back in the school but understand that there will still be some tough days occasionally.

Have a lovely Autumn week!

Kind regards

Trish

MMPS Inclusive Education Newsletter

Please click on the download below for our Inclusive Education Newsletter.
Download

Grade 3 Update

Swimming Program

Swimming lessons are now in full swing with week 1 down, 3 more days to go. Although quite a logistical feat to organise lessons for the whole school for two weeks running, everything is going very well. The students are enjoying their lessons, and are showing great enthusiasm, resilience and adaptability to combine an intense swimming program with their academic learning. So far they have had a lot of fun, learnt some very valuable skills and can look forward to Friday where the lessons are more relaxed and they get to have a swimming fun day! See below for some great pics of the students enjoying their time at the pool.

Sushi Mondays!

Sushi is here at MMPS. In addition to our lunch orders on Wednesdays and Fridays, we will be offering Sushi Lunch Orders on Mondays. Orders are to be placed via QKR only, no cash. Orders will close at 9am on the Monday morning of delivery. The Sushi menu is available on QKR.

Save the Date - Neon Disco

Save the Date

Saturday 18th of June for our upcoming Parents Night. More information about the event to follow soon.

Music in Term 2

The Ranges Music Network team is looking forward to getting back to music in Term 2!  Your young musicians can choose from Keyboard, Violin, Harp, Voice, Brass & Woodwinds, Percussion & Drums plus our fun and exciting Rhythm Warriors jam band program.  All in small groups with low ratios.  Plus we have an all new instrument rental program from Guitars and Keyboards to Saxophones & Drum Kits!

Email shaun@rangesmusic.net to get started!  

From the Office

Welcome to Term 2😊

A few reminders………..

Term 2

With the colder months ahead of us and the possibility of COVID causing further disruptions to schools, please be reminded that your triple vaccination status must be sighted at the office. 

Evidence of triple vaccination is required for everyone entering the school including parents, grandparents, volunteers, contractors, delivery drivers and the list goes on and on and on!  At present, we can promise we will sight your certificate once and document it in an effort to avoid repeatedly asking. 

This can be frustrating, however, your patience while we wade through the regulations and guidelines we must follow, does not go un-noticed and is greatly appreciated.

Working with Children’s Checks

A reminder to all parents/guardians to registered MMPS as a volunteer organisation on the Working with Children’s Check website.  On updating your details, The Department of Justice send us an official letter which we keep on record and check through when parents opt to volunteer for activities.

Thank you to the parents and volunteers who have already provided this information.  Many activities and events would not go ahead without you!

Qkr!

There are quite a few activities awaiting payment on Qkr!  Please check your receipts for record of payments.

If you are unsure, please contact the office, myself and Naomi are more than happy to assist you or step you through how to view your receipts on Qkr!

Late Arrival, Early Departure & Absence

Thank you to everyone for being diligent and signing your children in and out.  This is important to ensure accurate attendance records for your child/ren and is also used in the event of an emergency. 

A reminder, the Late Book and Early Departures Book is located at the reception desk. 

If your child/ren are absent, please remember to leave a message on the school absence line as early as possible.

There is quite a bit of lost property on the shelves in the student locker room area. If you are missing any items or school uniforms, please stop by and have a look when you are next in the school. Some of the uniforms do not have names, so it might be a good idea to have uniforms named - even if it is just the items they tend to take off such as jumpers, vests and hats.

Camps, Sports and Excursions Fund (CSEF)

Do you hold a valid, means-tested concession card? The Victorian Government will provide CSEF to assist eligible families to cover the costs of school trips, camps and sporting activities. If you hold a valid means-tested concession card or are a temporary foster parent, you may be eligible for CSEF.  A special consideration category also exists for asylum seeker and refugee families. The allowance is paid to the school to use towards expenses relating to camps, excursions or sporting activities for the benefit of your child. Please see the below attached for more information and an application form. Please contact the School Office if you have any further enquiries.

CSEF Financial Assistance Information

Download

CSEF Application Form 2022

Download

COMMUNITY NEWS

Term 2 Tennis

Futsal

Auskick 2022

Puppet Show

The Mount Players

Young Voices of Macedon

Young Voices of Macedon, a community choir for children of the Macedon Ranges invites primary school children to join us in Term 2. Under the direction of well-known and highly respected conductor Polly Christie, the choir has groups for younger and older children, which work both separately and together to learn a great variety of fun songs. The current emphasis is on songs about the environment. The choir also aims to provide quality training in voice production, part singing and performance, and features a friendly social environment.

Rehearsals take place on Thursdays at 4.15 pm at the Norma Richardson Hall, Buckland Street, Woodend. For further information visit www.yvmacedon.org.au

Important Dates

Monday 2nd May - Friday 13th May - Swimming Program

Friday 27th May - District Soccer

Friday 27th May - Neon Disco

Tuesday 14th June - District Netball

Saturday 18th June - Parent Event


2022 Term Dates

Term 1 - Monday 31st January to Friday 8th April

Term 2 - Tuesday 26th April to Friday 24th June

Term 3 - Monday 11th July to Friday 16th September

Term 4 - Monday 3rd October to Tuesday 20th December