Macedon Primary School Newsletter

29 April - House Athletics (Year 3 - 6) Dixon Field

30 April - Macedon Village Farmer's Market

2 May - SEA Australia Parent information evening, Yr 3-6,  7:00pm

Please register when you click on the link below:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84393276097?pwd=RjRYNC9tdUtIWE5DZkhQa2RtS2N4dz09

Meeting ID: 843 9327 6097

Passcode: 694211

6 May - SEA Australia visit Yr 3 -6

7 May - Foundation Digger's Rest Animal Farm excursion

9 May - Yr 5/6 District boys and girls football - Gisborne

13 May - SEA Australia visit Yr 3-6

20 May - SEA Australia visit Yr 3 -6

27 May - Yr 5/6 District boys and girls soccer - Gisborne

10 June - Curriculum Day - (student free day)

13 June - Queen's birthday holiday (student free day)

14 June - Yr 5/6 District Netball - Sunbury 

24 June - Last day of term 3

TERM 3:

11 July - First day of term 3

13 September - School photo day 

16 September - Last day of term 3

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)

As you will be aware, the Victorian Government announced some important changes to COVIDSafe measures for schools that will apply from the start of Term 2.  Please see below for an overview of these setting changes.

 Face masks

From 11:59 pm Friday 22 April, face masks, while recommended, are not required in any school setting. This means students in grades 3 to 6, staff and visitors in primary schools are no longer required to wear face masks. Any student or staff member who wishes to wear a mask may do so, including those who are medically at-risk.

Screening requirements

Students and staff who have tested positive for COVID-19, and have completed their 7-day isolation period, now do not need to undertake rapid antigen test (RAT) screening for 12 weeks after their release from isolation. This was previously 8 weeks.

Household contacts

Students and staff who are household contacts of a COVID-19 case are no longer required to quarantine. They can return to school as long as they undertake rapid antigen tests (RAT) 5 times within their 7-day period and wear face masks indoors if they are aged 8 and above unless they have a valid exemption.

If any household contact returns a positive RAT result during this period, they must isolate for 7 days and not attend school.

Vaccination requirements for visitors to schools

Parents, carers and other adult visitors (not performing work) are no longer required to show evidence of two doses of COVID-19 vaccine.

Rapid Antigen Test screening program extension reminder

The supply of rapid antigen tests will continue for the first 4 weeks of this term. The screening recommendations remain the same and we recommended you all to test your child/ren at home twice a week.  We will be distributing the rapid antigen tests via your child’s bag when the deliveries arrive at school.

Air Purifiers

We also  received another delivery of air purifiers late last term and now have two purifiers in almost all classrooms across the school.

 Financial support available to people affected by COVID-19:

For more information, visit:

Financial and other support for COVID-19 | Coronavirus Victoria

If you need a payment during coronavirus (COVID-19) - Getting help during coronavirus (COVID-19) - Services Australia

 General advice and support

For general advice and support please call the Department of Education and Training COVID-19 hotline on 1800 338 663.

Advice and further resources about what to do if you test positive to COVID-19, or you have been told you are a contact, are at: Your COVID Checklist | Coronavirus Victoria, or call the 24/7 Coronavirus hotline on: 1800 675 398

School council met for the 2nd time this term on Wednesday 23 March, warmly welcoming new council members. Key highlights from the meeting included:

·       Ava and Riley presented an excellent Grade 6 school improvement proposal that will emphasise the school’s commitment to diversity. Their proposal consists of replacing the school’s 2 flagpoles with 4, which will allow the school to fly the LGBTIQ+ and Torres Strait lslander flags in addition to the Aboriginal and Australian flags. Looking forward to the next school improvement proposal by our enterprising Grade 6 Leaders.

·       Matt Forest presented the 2021 annual report to the school community. One of the highlights of the report was the school’s academic achievements, including improved outcomes in literacy, as well as areas for future focus. That the school was able to attain these achievements during this time of disrupted learning is a credit to teachers and students.

·       In his principal’s report, Matt Forest confirmed 262 students were enrolled for 2022, with school tours for 2023 already underway! Matt also outlined the progress being made on various facilities that will further transform our school environment, such as the Library Learning Hub and the Fairy Garden in Middle Gully Reserve.

·       We elected new representatives for the following roles: Mark Bichan as Vice President, Julie Monk as Secretary, and Ben English as Treasurer, who join Justin Sawyers as President.

Wishing everyone a safe, happy and healthy Term 2.

If there is any issue any member of the school community would like to raise with School Council, please email macedon.ps@education.vic.gov.au

Julie Monk on behalf of the Macedon Primary School Councilors

Updating QKR! Details

Thank you to all of the parents who have downloaded the QKR! app and are using this to pay for excursions and special events such as sushi day. We would like to remind you to update your child class details and to also put your child name (not your name) as the contact. This can cause confusion when reconciling payments.

Medication for students

We have noticed an increase in students with mosquito bites. If your child requires medication for the relief of bites or suffers from seasonal allergies, please supply the office with the relevant medication and a medical authority form https://macedonps.vic.edu.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/medication-authority-form-frm-v1.0-may-2008.pdf. Please note, we cannot administer any medication without prior written consent.

Recess and Lunchtimes

Our students have recess from 11:00am - 11:30

Lunch starts at 1:00pm, the children eat their lunch in the classroom for 10 minutes and then go out to play until 2:00pm

If you wish to collect your child for an appointment during these times, please make sure you still come into the office to sign them out.

Our email address is macedon.ps@education.vic.gov.au or phone number is 54261518.

Family Invoices

Thank you to the families who have returned your family invoice notices. If you could please return these to the office ASAP it would be greatly appreciated.

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.

Enjoy your Easter break!

Julie and Emma

Congratulations to Ethan P and Piper E. Their 'eggcellent' colouring efforts won them an Easter Egg in the Gisborne Rotary Colouring Competition. Well done!

Spaces are filling up for OSHC.  Most spaces are taken up by permanent bookings and we are unable to book casuals in (they will have to be placed on a waiting list).  If 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.

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